I have some sympathy for Jaffar's plot to create a stable, world-ruling city in the Amazon River delta. He lost his father to a single de facto ruler, after all -- so interregnums look more dangerous to him than to most of us. (In the shorter term, presumably it's the desire to prevent a succession crisis that inspires him to have Ali and Alina marry.)

Besides, he already mentioned that he has the interests of Basra so completely at heart that he even pursues them in the afterlife.

Pity the ants in California, though -- unless they're fire ants.