US embassy cable - 04AMMAN3405

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: MAY 4 JORDAN-IRAQ REPORT: ABU GHREIB PRISON, 
JORDAN'S IRAQI POPULATION, AND NIA TRAINING 
 
Classified By: CDA DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.5(b), (d). 
 
1. (U) This is another of post's periodic wrap up cables on 
Iraqi items as seen from Amman followers. 
 
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UNAMI and Abu Ghreib 
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2. (C) A United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq's (UNAMI) 
Political Officer, Alan Fellows, suggested to PolOff on May 4 
the establishment of an international committee to 
investigate the recent evidence and allegations of abuse at 
Abu Ghreib prison as the best way for the U.S. to deal with 
the current crisis.  He also suggested that the investigation 
include allegations of looting and theft of property by 
Coalition forces.  Fellows asserted that such an 
investigation would have to be established in such a way to 
convince the Iraqi public of its independence for it to have 
any credibility.  Fellows opined that the detention system in 
Iraq is "a complete mess" and UNAMI is not surprised with the 
recent revelations of prison abuse in Abu Ghreib.  He claimed 
that UNAMI has received several unconfirmed reports over the 
past year from contacts and released prisoners of physical 
and mental abuse of male prisoners and even allegations of 
rape with subsequent pregnancy of some women prisoners. 
(Comment:  We report these views without assessing their 
validity.  In Amman, we have heard no other allegations of 
rape and pregnancy of female prisoners from a credible 
source, although these allegations have been carried in local 
media.  End comment.) 
 
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Jordan's illegal Iraqis 
----------------------- 
 
3. (C)  Businessman Salah Al-Samarai, an Iraqi legally 
residing in Jordan, told PolOff April 21 that the vast 
majority of Jordan's illegal Iraqis will not return to Iraq 
until the security situation improves and job opportunities 
increase.  This conviction is based on the excessive fines 
that Iraqis must pay if they try to reenter Jordan after 
having previously lived there illegally.  He said this 
uncertainty and levying of fines only serve to encourage 
Iraqis living in Jordan to stay put. 
 
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New Iraq Army officers to train in U.S. 
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4. (SBU) The first three New Iraq Army (NIA) officers are 
scheduled to attend training in the U.S. this summer.  One 
officer will attend the Command and General Staff College at 
Fort Leavenworth, KS starting in June, and the other two 
officers will attend the Infantry Captains' Career Course at 
Fort Benning, GA in August. 
 
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. 
 
 
HALE