US embassy cable - 04AMMAN7179

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 007179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, IS, IZ, SA, SY, JO 
SUBJECT: IRAQ, PEACE PROCESS, SYRIA DOMINATE LANTOS VISIT 
TO JORDAN 
 
REF: A. DAMASCUS 4931 
     B. DAMASCUS 5039 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) During separate meetings with King Abdullah, GID 
Director General Sa'ad Kheir, and Foreign Minister Marwan 
Muasher, in Amman on August 19, Congressman Tom Lantos 
focused on the positive in Jordan and criticized leaders from 
neighboring Arab countries. The Jordanians reiterated their 
support for the Allawi government, but expressed their 
growing concern about Iran's activities in Iraq. They 
also expressed their frustration with the Palestinian 
leadership but insisted that any Israeli withdrawal be 
consistent with the roadmap. Syrian and Saudi border issues 
also permeated the discussions, and Jordanian frustration 
with Damascus was evident. END SUMMARY. 
 
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CONCERNS IN IRAQ 
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2. (C) During a series of meetings with CODEL Lantos on 
August 19, Jordanian officials clearly stated their steadfast 
support of the Iraqi Interim Government, but added that they 
are watching developments in Iraq with great concern. GID 
Director Kheir believed the situation in Iraq is 
crystallizing and that conditions will improve even more 
after the up-coming elections. He described his concern over 
increased talk of factionalization between Sunni, Shiite and 
Kurd. Kheir said that he will advise Allawi on his next visit 
to Jordan to create another Deputy Prime Minister post and 
appoint a Sunni to balance out the current DPM post occupied 
by a Shiite. He also expressed concern over Iran,s role, 
arguing that Tehran benefits from instability in Iraq. Kheir 
called Sistani "an Iranian illegal immigrant in Iraq" and 
maintained that he should not play a political role. 
 
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FRUSTRATIONS WITH PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP 
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3. (C) Kheir expressed astonishment at the incompetence of PA 
leadership. He noted that Prime Minister Sharon had told him 
often that he has invited the Palestinian Prime Minister to 
talk with him, but he has refused. Kheir hinted that this was 
most likely a result of Arafat's refusal to authorize such a 
meeting as it would diminish his stature. Kheir also 
reiterated the King's complaint that PA leaders always blame 
their Arab neighbors for their difficulties without admitting 
fault themselves. In a separate meeting, FM Muasher also 
stated that Arafat must turn over more power to the 
Palestinian Authority in order for the peace process to move 
forward. He insisted that the Gaza disengagement must be part 
of a fuller Israeli withdrawal in accordance with the 
roadmap, the ultimate objective being a Palestinian state in 
the West Bank and Gaza. 
 
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SYRIAN AND SAUDI BORDER SECURITY 
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4. (C) Kheir highlighted the Syrian government's inability or 
unwillingness to control its border with Iraq. He also told 
Lantos that Syria was receiving arms from Iran to support 
Hamas and Hizballah. Kheir also complained about the SARG,s 
stubbornness on Syrian-Jordanian border issues. (See septel 
on Jordanian PM Al-Fayez,s recent visit to Syria.) When 
Lantos asked Muasher what kind of support the United States 
could offer Jordan, Muasher replied that Jordan needs 
additional military/border security aid. Muasher claimed that 
the King feared that what had so far been dealt with behind 
closed doors could eventually erupt into open confrontation 
between Syria and Jordan. The King was clearly frustrated 
with Syrian leadership, but he maintained that he still has 
good relations with Bashar. He said that Bashar always said 
the right thing but never followed it up with any action. 
 
5. (C) Kheir also identified the Saudi-Iraqi border as a 
source of infiltration into Iraq of arms and militants. As he 
explained it, the Saudi government would prefer that these 
elements enter into Iraq so that they are no longer a threat 
to the Saudi regime. Kheir noted that the GOJ had trained 
many Saudi security units, but he is not confident that the 
Saudi security forces overall have the ability to meet the 
internal threat confronting them. 
 
6) (U) CODEL Lantos did not have an opportunity to clear this 
cable. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman or access the site 
through the State Department's SIPRNET home page. 
 
HALE