Personal

• --Born in Amman, Jordan on November 14, 1935.
• --Eleven children.
• --Married the former Lisa Halaby of Virginia, now known as Queen Noor on June 15, 1978.

Professional

• --Attended the Harrow School in England, 1951.
• --Proclaimed King of Jordan while only seventeen on August 11, 1952.
• --Attended Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England, 1953.
• --Formal accession to the Throne on May 2, 1953.
• --Uneasy Lies The Head, the autobiography of the King was published in England, 1962.

*King Hussein attempted to serve as a go-between with U.S. and Iraqi governments, but with little success. His country shares a border with Iraq and Israel, along with the major port of Ababa, where many blockade runners were smuggling goods into Iraq prior to the U.S. Navy's interdiction program. He is a personal friend of George Bush, but has been unable to sway the President or his other friend, Saddam Hussein, to agree on this matter.

On February 6, King Hussein was forced to make a speech condemning the allied bombing of Iraq and in the eyes of many, putting Jordan on the side of Iraq. Public opinion in his country was so overwhelmingly pro-Hussein that many began to fear the King would fall if he were to continue his stance of neutrality. Following his speech, the King became more popular than ever in his country, ensuring that he would stay in power in the short-term.

The long-term situation in Jordan is much different. Economically isolated and disliked by many in the West, Jordan is going to have a difficult time rebuilding its economy which was so dependent on Saudi Arabia and Iraq. In addition, the presence of Jordanian arms in Kuwait City allegedly shipped after the embargo with Iraq have upset several countries and economic aid to Jordan is certain to be curtailed. King Hussein's negotiating skills, which failed him in trying to seek a peaceful solution to this crisis, will have to be working perfectly if he wishes to maintain his kingdom in the face of international and possible domestic opposition.

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