US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9916

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009916 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KPAL, MASS, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL GROVE MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) In a meeting with Staffdel Grove on December 8, Prince 
Faisal advocated support for Jordan's current military 
funding request, focusing on border security needs. He 
presented a positive long-term view of Iraq and highlighted 
opportunity in the Arab-Israeli conflict, while dismissing 
Syria as uncommitted to reform and peacemaking. End Summary. 
 
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FMF 
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2. (C) Prince Faisal (acting as regent in the absence of King 
Abdullah) discussed December 8 with Staffdel Grove Jordan's 
revised request for USD 500 million in military funding. He 
described border security as one of the request's top 
priorities. Faisal used the recent incident at the 
Karamah/Trebil crossing between Jordan and Iraq, where U.S. 
marines came under mortar attack, as an example of why border 
security was such a priority. He explained how the driver of 
an SUV laden with explosives had used the diversion provided 
by the mortar attack to try to run the border checkpoint. 
According to Faisal, the detonator failed, the driver was 
apprehended, and later revealed that he was trying to target 
a large fuel depot. 
 
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Iraq 
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3. (C) On Iraq, Faisal said he believed that things would get 
worse before they get better. In the long term he thought 
Iraq would be a success story because the will of the 
international community demanded it. With regard to the 
timing of elections, Faisal believed there would always be 
some Sunni elements that would continue to create violence in 
order to indefinitely delay voting.  At some point, he said, 
elections would have to go forward regardless, but conditions 
must be sufficiently stable to have a fair electoral campaign 
without threat to Sunni voters or candidates. Faisal clearly 
saw the irony of how violence could prompt the postponing 
elections, while elections could impart legitimacy and reduce 
the justification for violence. "You're damned if you do and 
you're damned if you don't," he stated. 
 
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Arab-Israeli Conflict 
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4. (C) Faisal felt there was an opportunity for progress in 
the peace process, but cautioned that there would always be 
elements on both sides that would actively resist the will of 
the majority who wanted an end to the conflict. He stated 
that those who wanted peace needed to have a strong 
commitment in order to weather the attacks from those who 
opposed a peaceful resolution. According to Faisal, Egypt 
must play the more proactive role because of its ties to 
Gaza, though he cautioned that Egypt did not always act for 
the parties, shared interests. Faisal felt that the U.S. 
should play a more "enabling" role in the peace process and 
could still act as an "honest broker." He noted the 
importance of President Bush's statements calling for a 
two-state solution. 
 
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Syria 
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5. (C) Faisal saw Syria as only doing the minimum necessary 
to placate the demands of the international community.  He 
did not see Syria making honest efforts to help stabilize 
Iraq or to aid the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict. 
 
6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
HALE