US flexes its Jordan muscles

"Regional analysts and officials have said that while those exercises are touted as a "multilateral relationship-building" measure, on the ground they are widely seen as the U.S. "flexing its muscles" and laying the groundwork for future maneuvers." "He stressed that the decision to send the Patriots to Jordan as part of the exercises was made more than a year ago, and that the decision over whether or not they would remain in Jordan would be handled by Washington."