US embassy cable - 02AMMAN2513

S E C R E T AMMAN 002513 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR UNDERSECRETARY BOLTON AND A/S BLOOMFIELD 
FROM AMBASSADOR GNEHM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2012 
TAGS: KHDP, PREL, MASS, JO 
SUBJECT: IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED U.S. SUPPORT FOR JORDAN'S 
DEMINING PROGRAM 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm.  Reasons 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1. (C) We understand that the Department may be considering 
consolidating its NADR Humanitarian Demining programs and 
focusing on fewer countries in the coming fiscal years.  If 
this is the case, we believe it is important for U.S. 
political and military interests in the region -- and in OEF 
-- that NADR funding for Jordan continue. 
 
2. (S) King Abdullah has stuck his neck out for us on many 
occasions this past year.  In the face of 20 months of 
deepening Israeli-Palestinian violence, he has maintained a 
policy of moderate, constructive engagement with both parties 
and with other regional players.  His efforts have been 
crucial in building Arab support for the Saudi (and now Arab 
League) Peace Initiative.  Perhaps most importantly, 
immediately after 9/11, the King was the strongest Arab voice 
speaking out against terror and he backed up his words with 
deeds.  Closely coordinating with us, he sent a Jordanian 
army field hospital and a company of Jordanian deminers to 
Afghanistan to support OEF. He also dispatched Jordanian 
Special Forces to other locations in support of our global 
war on terrorism. 
 
3. (C) The King made these decisions in the face of 
widespread and growing anti-American sentiment in the region. 
 He showed himself to be a friend willing to risk the anger 
of many in the Arab world to take a firm stand along with us. 
 
4. (C) Jordan's HD program, thanks to the United States' 
substantial support, is making steady progress.  Over 80,000 
mines have been pulled from the ground, the risks to 
Jordanians living near mined areas has been greatly reduced 
and hundreds of acres of scarce fertile land in the Jordan 
Valley have been returned to cultivation.  This is a program 
that works and -- we would argue -- should merit continued 
support based on its own accomplishments. 
 
5. (S) However, beyond that, we believe that a decision to 
alter our traditional support for Jordan's HD program would 
send a particularly bad signal at this time.  First, one of 
Jordan's most visible contributions to OEF is its deminers. 
To reduce assistance to the very branch of the Jordanian 
Armed Forces (the Royal Corps of Engineers) that is standing 
with us in Afghanistan does not make political or military 
sense.  Beyond that, and looking ahead to future possible 
objectives, we should think about what we would ask of Jordan 
during or after any potential U.S. action in Iraq.  One very 
tangible way the Jordanians could assist us in a post-Saddam 
Iraq would be to help clear the land of mines and other 
ordnance.  As we look to various scenarios that might take 
place, we should make sure that those who have helped us in 
the past and present, will have the resources they need to do 
so in the future. 
 
6. (S) We recognize that NADR HD funds are already stretched 
very thin, and there are more worthy recipients than there 
are resources.  That said, we strongly believe that -- given 
the King's and Jordan's demonstrated commitment to our shared 
values and joint endeavors -- every effort should be made to 
maintain our NADR HD support for Jordan at current levels for 
the next several fiscal years. 
Gnehm