Voices

Reaction Sunday to the death of King Hussein of Jordan:

“No words can convey what King Hussein meant to the people he led for nearly half a century. Words cannot convey what he meant to me as a friend and inspiration. Through good times and bad, through health and illness, he showed the power of a strong will applied to a worthy cause.”

President Clinton

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“(He) was an Arab leader who dedicated his thoughts and life to the service of his nation’s causes and escorted his people through some of the most difficult crises over nearly half a century.”

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

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“Today the world mourns the passing of a king whose true majesty found expression in a lifelong struggle to bring peace to the ordinary men and women of the Middle East. He showed again that courage is an essential ingredient of any peace process.”

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan

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“On the personal level there was no one more gracious, considerate and kind; no one more hospitable and generous; no one more capable of understanding and empathy.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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“I considered King Hussein a close personal friend who supported the United States in every way possible. Even though differences arose in 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait. I remained in close touch with his majesty. He was a loyal ally for the United States and a visionary advocate of Middle East Peace. The world has lost one of its greatest leaders.”

Former President George Bush