US embassy cable - 04AMMAN3484

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003484 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PHUM, PREL, KISL, KPAL, IZ, IS, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIANS VENT ANGER AT U.S., WHILE OTHERS 
QUIETLY SEEK CLOSER U.S. TIES 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 03406 
     B. AMMAN 03388 
     C. AMMAN 03380 
     D. AMMAN 03148 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b), (d) 
 
 ------ 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) Strong public opposition to U.S. policies in the 
region and, more recently, outrage over the Abu Ghreib 
prisoner abuse story continue to fuel anti-U.S. sentiment in 
Jordan.  Articles attacking the U.S. figure prominently in 
the press while opposition groups have stepped up their 
activities and statements denouncing American "arrogance" and 
"war crimes."  Some Embassy contacts have deemed the current 
level of anti-Americanism as "unprecedented" in recent years. 
 Nevertheless, some Jordanians have refused to jump on the 
anti-U.S. bandwagon and are instead seeking strengthened ties 
with the Embassy and/or American organizations.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
THE U.S. TAKES A BEATING 
------------------------ 
 
2.  (U) The Israeli killings of HAMAS leaders Sheikh Yassin 
and Sheikh Rantissi, coupled with the President's letter of 
assurances to Israeli PM Sharon, prompted marked anti-U.S. 
sentiment in Jordan (see ref d) in April.  The recent 
revelation of prisoner abuses at the Abu Ghreib prison in 
Iraq has further heightened Jordanian public ire (see refs a, 
b).  Seeking to capitalize on anti-U.S. feelings, opposition 
parties and professional associations have orchestrated a 
series of events and public statements denouncing the U.S. 
The Jordanian Engineers Association, for example, organized a 
workshop urging support for the Iraqi "resistance," while the 
Professional Associations sponsored a rally to condemn the 
"Anglo-American occupation of Iraq."  The President of the 
Jordan Press Association called on journalists to boycott 
Embassy activities.  Even the Jordan Medical Association 
joined the fray, condemning U.S. mistreatment of prisoners as 
a "criminal act" that confirmed the hypocrisy of the stated 
U.S. commitment to democracy, freedom and human rights.  In 
addition to rebuking the U.S. for its abuse of detainees (see 
ref c), the Islamic Action Front (IAF) announced that it had 
rejected participation in an upcoming Embassy-sponsored 
International Visitor program for Parliament members to 
protest "hostile U.S. policies towards Arabs" and "the 
American massacres in Iraq." 
 
----------------------------- 
THE PRESS STILL ON THE ATTACK 
----------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) The Jordanian media continues its extensive negative 
coverage of reported prisoner abuse in Iraq.  Press articles 
and editorials repeatedly accuse the U.S. of "war crimes" and 
widespread gross violations of human rights.  One story May 6 
alleged that U.S. forces "beat up" Jordanian truck drivers at 
the Iraqi border for refusing to pay 50 Jordanian dinars 
(roughly $70 USD) to Iraqi authorities, while a columnist 
claimed that he had a CD showing photos of Iraqi women being 
raped by their American jailers.  (NOTE: Embassy has sent 
this columnist, and another writer who referred to the 
alleged rape photos, a letter that details Embassy Cairo's 
discovery that these photos originated from a pornographic 
website.)  Coverage of the President's Arabic satellite 
interviews has been extensive, but has focused on the absence 
of a direct statement of apology. 
 
----------------- 
MP FEELS THE HEAT 
----------------- 
 
4.  (C) Anti-American press coverage has affected some 
pro-U.S. Jordanians.  Reformist member of Parliament Raed 
Qaqish (Christian East Banker, Balqa - 1st District) took two 
members of an American NGO early in the week to the town of 
Salt for a meeting to discuss possible development projects. 
Qaqish had not informed the meeting organizers in advance 
about his guests, but told PolCouns there had been no 
negative reaction at the gathering.  Two days later, however, 
several press stories blasted him for his alleged error in 
judgment in bringing Americans to a public event.  MP Mahmoud 
Kharabsheh (East Banker, Balqa - 1st District) told PolOff 
May 5 that many people in Salt were still very angry with 
Qaqish and that he had even heard of "death threats" against 
him.  This anger, according to Kharabsheh and other contacts, 
stemmed from a high level of anti-Americanism in Jordan that 
is "unprecedented" in recent years. 
 
----------------- 
GOOD WITH THE BAD 
----------------- 
 
5.  (C) Not all Jordanians have jumped on the anti-U.S. 
bandwagon.  Embassy contacts, for the most part, continue 
their cooperation and cordial relations with EmbOffs, albeit 
perhaps a bit more discreetly.  In some cases, Jordanians are 
even seeking to strengthen their ties with the Embassy.  The 
relentless Father Nabil Haddad, a Melkite Catholic priest and 
interfaith tolerance activist, hosted PolCouns at a dinner 
with American Jewish peace activists May 6, declaring that he 
wants to expand dialogue and programs with the Embassy on 
religious tolerance.  Within the GOJ, employees at the 
Ministry of Political Development have asked for Embassy 
advice and assistance in promoting political reforms.  Even 
MP Qaqish has said that he will continue to pursue 
development programs with U.S. NGOs to benefit his 
constituents. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
6.  (C) Anti-Americanism in Jordan is nothing new, but the 
intensity and pervasiveness of this sentiment has increased. 
Perhaps more troubling is the recent shift of criticism away 
from U.S. government policies to U.S. society.  Prompted by 
the Abu Ghreib story, and illustrated by the incident in 
Salt, Jordanians who used to speak admiringly of American 
values are now questioning what they think lies beneath U.S. 
culture. 
 
7.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or through the 
Department of State's SIPRNET site. 
HALE