US embassy cable - 05AMMAN5806

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005806 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: COMING SOON: A NEW JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4(b,d) 
 
1. (C) Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher told Special 
Advisor Jones and Charge on July 19 that the GOJ has 
identified a candidate to serve as ambassador to Iraq and has 
approached the Government of Iraq for agreement.  The 
designee is a retired general, but no name has been provided 
to us.  Given the security situation in Iraq, Jordan's new 
ambassador may present his credentials and return to Jordan 
until the situation improves.  However, Muasher hoped that 
the appointment would send a strong signal to the other Arab 
states in particular.  Muasher asked for the USG's assistance 
with security arrangements, complaining that "the Iraqis say 
encouraging things, but there is never any follow-up." 
 
2. (SBU) The decision makes good on Muasher,s statement 
during a press conference on July 6 that the GOJ was 
determined to name an ambassador to Baghdad as soon as 
possible, despite recent attacks on diplomats there. 
However, the GOJ,s determination does not sit well in some 
quarters.  A commentator in local Arabic daily al-Arab 
al-Youm on July 14 criticized the GOJ,s insistence on 
sending an Ambassador to Iraq at this time, writing: "The 
Iraqi government cannot protect itself, let alone our 
embassy.  The idea of sending an ambassador to Iraq is 
madness, unless the government is thinking of him presenting 
his credentials to Al-Zarqawi?" 
 
HALE