Hundreds of Jordanian political, legal, and public figures have signed an open letter demanding the withdrawal of US forces from Jordan. They call the American presence a security, political, and economic risk pulling the country into a war it wants no part of. It's a rare public challenge in a kingdom that has heavily cracked down on dissent. Most Jordanian outlets refuse to publish the letter, and organizers warn signatories could be jailed. Anger is rising as Iran keeps targeting the ~4,000 US troops based in Jordan. Sirens sound across the country, and debris from intercepted missiles has been falling on civilian areas. In Parliament this week, a lawmaker was shouted down for suggesting condolences for US soldiers killed on Jordanian soil. Another member accused the US military of killing "children, women and the elderly." The government remains locked into the alliance, largely because Washington provided $1.65 billion in economic and military aid last year. But the war has already crushed the tourism sector — up to 18% of Jordan's revenue. Source: NYT