US embassy cable - 04AMMAN3230

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003230 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CPA FOR AMB BREMER 
FROM AMBASSADOR GNEHM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, IZ, US, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIANS IN CUSTODY IN IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm for reasons 1.5(b), (d). 
 
1.  (U)  This is an action request for CPA, CENTCOM, and 
CJTF-7.  See para 4 below. 
 
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JORDANIANS IN CUSTODY IN IRAQ 
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2.  (C)  Let me take this opportunity to offer my sincere 
appreciation for your continuing efforts in Iraq.  As we have 
discussed on your visits to Amman, the government of Jordan 
has gone to extraordinary lengths to support the U.S. and 
Coalition goals of restoring stability and prosperity to Iraq 
through police and military training, training of Iraqi 
government employees, and extensive contacts and assistance 
to Iraqi ministries.  Because of its support for the new 
Iraq, the GOJ has come under increasing criticism from 
domestic critics for "supporting the occupiers" in Iraq. 
Despite this criticism, the GOJ has persevered in its efforts 
to help Iraq.  They know that doing so serves their own 
strategic interests, as well as others. 
 
3.  (C)  There have been persistent reports of the detention 
of Jordanian citizens in Iraq.  CPA and CJTF-7 have in the 
past helped us to identify more than forty Jordanians who 
were held in Coalition military custody and subsequently 
released.  Members of the Jordanian Parliament have recently 
alleged that more than 1000 Jordanian citizens are in 
Coalition custody in Iraq.  While neither we nor the GOJ 
believe that this figure is accurate, neither do we have 
current and solid information to refute these allegations. 
Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry asked us April 25 to 
provide as complete an accounting of Jordanian citizens in 
custody in Iraq as possible -- whether in CPA, CJTF-7, or 
Iraqi police custody, or incarcerated in the Iraqi prison 
system.  The Jordanian MFA does not want opposition members 
of Parliament to use these allegation to further undercut 
Jordanian support for Iraq. 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
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4.  (C)  I would therefore like to ask your help in providing 
as complete a list as possible of all identified Jordanians 
currently in CPA or Coalition military custody.  In addition, 
we also need to get an informed estimate of the aggregate 
number of Jordanians incarcerated in the Iraqi justice system 
(police or court detention and prison).  If CPA or CJTF-7 are 
unable to provide a reliable estimate of Jordanians held in 
Iraqi custody, I would appreciate any information you could 
provide that we could give to the Jordanians so they can 
direct their queries on this matter to the proper Iraqi 
authorities.  Allow me to once again extend my appreciation 
and support to you and each coalition member in your efforts 
to build a better Iraq.  Warm regards, Skip Gnehm. 
 
5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page. 
GNEHM