US embassy cable - 02AMMAN6878

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006878 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2012 
TAGS: KPAO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REACTION TO AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE AND 
PEACE CORPS DEPARTURE 
 
Classified By: Haynes Mahoney, PAO, Reason 1.5 b and d 
 
1. (U) Summary.  Jordanian official and public reactions to 
the announcement of authorized departure and the departure of 
the Peace Corps are mixed.  While GOJ leaders and many 
businessmen express regret but "understanding" for the 
decisions, the columnists and some of our contacts say they 
are confused, suspicious and resentful over a move which they 
believe will undermine Jordan's reputation as a safe place 
for tourism and business.  "Do you know what you're doing to 
Jordan?" one journalist contact asked angrily, predicting 
that the already troubled economy would take more hits and 
for no good reason.  Foreign Minister Muasher and Information 
Minister Adwan tried to minimize the impact, stressing that 
the departure policy is voluntary and limited in scope and 
predicting that the Peace Corps' absence is temporary. 
Ambassador Gnehm plans to clarify misunderstandings about the 
nature of the decisions when he speaks to Jordan's Petra News 
Agency today.  End Summary 
 
2. (C) Official Reaction:  What You Had To Do 
Senior officials up to King Abdullah (septel) expressed 
regret over the conditions behind the authorized departure 
decision and the temporary removal of the Peace Corps, and 
repeated their assurance that the GOJ would do everything it 
could to ensure the security of Embassy personnel and other 
American citizens.  Nevertheless, they said they understood 
our responsibility to make hard choices to protect the lives 
of American citizens.  "You must do what you have to do," one 
senior GOJ official told the Ambassador.  The head of 
Jordan's security apparatus, the Public Security Division, 
told emboffs that he was regretful but "relieved" over the 
departure of the Peace Corps volunteers, whose locations 
among poor communities scattered throughout the country posed 
special challenges. 
 
3. (U) Media Grumbling 
Though all major papers have prominently reported the 
authorized and Peace Corps departures, mainly drawing on the 
Foreign and Information Ministers' statements, press 
commentary has been limited but critical. One column called 
the departure policies "baseless and unjustifiable," stating 
that by exaggerating threats to Americans the U.S. was taking 
away with one hand the considerable aid it gives with the 
other, and blaming this paradox on unidentified "elements in 
the U.S. administration" with an anti-Jordanian agenda. 
Another columnist complained that the measure was hurting 
Jordan's trade and investment climate even before the 
expected war in Iraq.  Both commentaries echoed the 
Information Minister's message that Jordan is one of "the 
safest places on earth." 
 
4. (U) Anxiety Levels Up, Though Businessmen Calm 
Our FSNs received numerous calls over the weekend following 
the authorized departure announcement in Washington, asking 
whether all Americans were evacuating Jordan, and whether 
this step was the first move in the anticipated Iraq war. 
Our explanation that the departures are voluntary, limited in 
time and would not interfere with routine Mission services 
seemed to calm people somewhat though there is still a 
considerable amount of anxiety and resentment over these 
highly publicized events.  With reports of renewed violence 
in the southern town of Ma'an, Jordanians feel that the 
departure of diplomats and Peace Corps volunteers will not 
enhance their country's reputation or stability.  However a 
quick, informal poll of businessmen shows that most do not 
believe the decisions will have a significant impact on their 
business. 
 
5. (C) Comment: 
Most of our contacts assumed from first reports that the 
decision would lead to a large drawdown of staff and a 
reduction of programs.  As it becomes clear that this is not 
the case, we expect that the anxiety over the decision will 
lessen considerably. 
 
GNEHM