US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5094

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MASS, IZ, JO, KTER 
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH DISCUSSES POLICE/MILITARY TRAINING 
FOR IRAQ AND U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE WITH CODEL DASCHLE 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (b),(d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (S/NF) King Abdullah told CODEL Daschle January 20 that 
he shared their concerns over whether current training 
programs for the Iraqi military and police would allow Iraqis 
to assume responsibility for their own security without a 
significant U.S. troop presence.  The King pledged that 
Jordanian special forces and military trainers would continue 
to play a "quiet" role in Iraq, but said that sending troops 
openly -- even in response to a request for Arab help by 
interim Iraqi PM Allawi -- was unlikely given Jordan's shared 
border with Iraq and the Hashemite link with the old Iraqi 
monarchy.  The CODEL promised to help seek additional 
military assistance for the Kingdom in light of the 
challenges Jordan faced in securing its borders, especially 
with Saudi Arabia.  End Summary. 
 
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IRAQI POLICE/MILITARY TRAINING 
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2.  (C) Senator Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Senators 
Joseph Biden and Lindsey Graham (CODEL Daschle), accompanied 
by the Ambassador, met June 20 with King Abdullah in Amman. 
The CODEL briefed the King on their recent visit to Iraq, 
including their very favorable impression of interim Prime 
Minister Allawi, whom they described as a strong and 
realistic leader, and their concern over the unstable 
security situation.  The Senators also shared their positive 
impressions of the Iraqi police training facility in Jordan, 
which they had just toured.  While thanking the King for his 
efforts to help train the new Iraqi security services, the 
CODEL expressed doubts whether the Iraqi military and police 
would be able to maintain security without a substantial U.S. 
troop presence in the foreseeable future. 
 
3.  (C) The King agreed with the CODEL that the police 
training program should be extended if possible beyond the 
current 8 week duration given the limited skills of new 
recruits and the serious security challenges present in Iraq. 
 The King said the same also applied with respect to the 
Iraqi military training program conducted in Jordan.  The 
Jordanian armed forces, according to the King, are currently 
identifying the "cream of the crop" of Iraqis coming for 
basic military training and then bringing them back for 
further, advanced instruction at GOJ expense. 
 
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ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ 
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4.  (S/NF) Responding to a question on deploying Jordanian 
security personnel, the King stated that a limited number of 
Jordanian special forces and military trainers were already 
"quietly" operating in Iraq.  Sending additional forces, 
however, was a charged political issue that would depend on 
the stance of PM Allawi and other factors.  A direct plea by 
Allawi for Arab help could pave the way for an open 
deployment of Jordanian security trainers, but the 
possibility of Jordanian troops on patrol in Iraq was 
unlikely given Iraq's shared border with Jordan and the 
Hashemite family's connection to the old Iraqi monarchy. 
 
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BORDER SECURITY CONCERNS 
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5.  (S) The CODEL noted that Jordan had been a firm ally in 
the global war against terror and asked the King to briefly 
talk about his request for additional U.S. military 
assistance, which he had raised on Capitol Hill during his 
June visit to Washington.  The King replied that although 
Jordanian forces were successfully policing the Iraqi and 
Syrian borders, they were stretched far too thin to 
adequately monitor Jordan's long, open border with Saudi 
Arabia.  King Abdullah stated that Jordanian forces along the 
Saudi border had already intercepted six or seven groups 
intent on "causing problems" in southern Jordan or crossing 
over into Israel.  The requested $400 million in military 
assistance would greatly help combat this potential threat, 
mainly by providing advanced technology and a C4ISR program 
to secure Jordan's borders.  The King said that a specific 
breakdown of the request and the equipment desired had 
already been provided to the Pentagon. 
 
6.  (C) All three Senators said they understood Jordan's need 
for security assistance and were strongly supportive of the 
King's request for additional military aid.  They pledged to 
work in Washington to seek additional funds for Jordan. 
 
7.  (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