US embassy cable - 05AMMAN2218

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN AUTHORITIES DETAIN, RELEASE JOURNALIST 
OVER SUICIDE BOMBER STORY 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 2131 
     B. BAGHDAD 1125 
     C. BAGHDAD 1138 
 
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Post contacts confirm that Jordanian authorities -- 
reportedly on the orders of Interior Minister Samir Habashneh 
-- detained for questioning and later released a reporter for 
Arabic daily al-Ghad on March 14 on suspicion that he 
fabricated the story that a Jordanian citizen, Raed Mansour 
al-Banna, had carried out a suicide bombing in Iraq on March 
1 (ref A).  Two al-Ghad editors were also interrogated in the 
case.  Meanwhile, al-Banna's family -- possibly after being 
approached by Jordanian security services -- issued a 
statement claiming that they had not held a "martyrdom 
celebration" as reported in al-Ghad, and denying that their 
son was responsible for the Hilla bombing (saying that he had 
in fact died in Mosul).  The family also denounced the 
killing of innocent Iraqis. 
 
2.  (C)  Against the backdrop of reports that angry Iraqis 
attacked the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad on March 14 in 
response to the al-Ghad story (refs B and C), GOJ officials 
issued public statements emphasizing Jordan's strong stance 
against terrorism and declaring support for Iraq's security 
and its people.  Members of Jordan's Lower House of 
Parliament on March 15 issued a statement criticizing the 
embassy attack and denying any Jordanian responsibility for 
the Hilla bombing. 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  With the King and his key advisors out of 
the country, and PM Fayez reportedly ill, the GOJ response to 
this controversy has been disjointed.  King Abdullah learned 
of the arrest while en route to Washington on March 15. 
Abdullah told DCM Hale -- who was traveling with the King -- 
that he was appalled at Habashneh's move, and ordered the 
reporter released.  There was considerable back-and-forth 
between the traveling party and GID Chief Khayr (in 
Washington) and Prime Minister al-Fayez (in Amman) to repair 
what Palace officials regarded as gross mismanagement of this 
matter by the government.  This chapter may have tipped the 
balance against al-Fayez, whose performance has been a source 
of dismay to the King, but who has benefited from the King's 
loyalty toward favorites even after they have become 
liabilities.  Maneuvering among the King's top aides in 
Washington to accelerate Fayez's departure is transparent, 
with speculation of a successor running from GID Chief Khayr 
to Foreign Minister al-Mulki.  If the King does move to 
change PMs, he may wait until Fayez approaches the two-year 
anniversary mark in the Fall.  Meanwhile, he is likely to 
continue the trend of working around the Prime Minister, with 
Royal Court Minister al-Rifai and Khayr becoming de facto 
heads of government.  This degree of royal intervention in 
governmental affairs cuts against the King's long-term 
ambition for reform, but until he dispenses with Fayez, he 
does not have many other options. 
 
4.  (U)  Minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through 
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. 
HENZEL