US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9777

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009777 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KPKO, SU, JO, UN 
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE CONTINGENCY PLANNING TO SUPPORT A UN 
MISSION IN DARFUR 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 1.  (C) A mid-level Jordanian military officer informed 
USDAO Amman (septel) that the Jordanian military is 
conducting contingency planning to deploy approximately 70 
soldiers to serve as UN military observers in Darfur, Sudan 
in January 2005 in the event the UNSC agrees to establish a 
peace support operation in Darfur.  The officer further 
stated that two companies of de-mining engineers were 
preparing for a possible deployment, as was a Jordanian field 
hospital.  We note that Jordanian military field hospitals 
have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. 
 
2.  (C) On December 8, Auda Abu Tayeh of the Foreign 
Minister's Private Office told PolOff that while it was 
possible that the Jordanian Armed Forces were involved in 
contingency planning related to Darfur, nothing had been 
shared with the MFA on this and he did not believe the GOJ 
was considering offering forces for a Darfur UN operation. 
 
3.  (C) Comment:  It is possible that the GOJ is considering 
such a step and that the MFA is out of the loop or not 
authorized to brief us.  Post will continue to take 
soundings, and we hope for more information once GOJ 
decision-makers start returning from the King's December 5-14 
visits to the U.S., Japan and Singapore. 
HENZEL