US embassy cable - 05AMMAN9391

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 009391 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, SCUL, PTER, JO, Amman Hotel Bombing 
SUBJECT: CONDEMNATION OF THE NOVEMBER 9 BOMBINGS CONTINUES 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 08957 
     B. AMMAN 8835 
     C. AMMAN 8829 
 
1. Summary:  The November 9 hotel bombings continue to draw 
condemnation from almost every sector of Jordanian society. 
The Islamic Action Front, which once regularly praised 
so-called "resistance" in Iraq, is at pains to distance 
itself from the attacks and from Zarqawi.  In early December, 
59 Jordanian civil society organizations issued a joint 
statement labeling the attacks a "contradiction of Islamic 
teachings," and called for the joining of forces to combat 
terrorism.  Jordanian media aired television programs and 
songs condemning the bombings, while Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's 
family and tribe publicly disowned him on November 20.  End 
Summary. 
 
------------------------------ 
IAF FIRM IN DENOUNCING ATTACKS 
------------------------------ 
 
2. The Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political wing of the 
Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, continues to unequivocally 
denounce the November 9 bombings.  In a statement printed in 
local media on November 22, IAF Deputy Secretary-General 
Jamil Abu Baker described the attacks as "criminal acts that 
cannot be justified."  He continued that "similar acts that 
take place against innocent civilians, whether in Iraq or 
Palestine or anywhere else are equally condemnable and they 
cannot be accepted in any way."  Similarly, Abdul Latif 
Arabiyat, president of the IAF,s governing Shura council, 
stated publicly that "Islam does not allow any killing of any 
innocent people whether the (suicide bombers) blow themselves 
up in a hotel lobby or a ballroom."  This is a notable change 
of position for both men, who in the past have praised some 
terrorist attacks that killed Israeli civilians, and have at 
best remained silent when bombs killed civilians in Iraq. 
 
------------------------------------- 
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS SPEAK OUT 
------------------------------------- 
 
3. On December 3, 59 civil society organizations called for a 
common Arab front to combat terrorists and their leaders who 
lack minimum religious and humanitarian values, and whose 
actions tarnish Arabic culture and Islamic civilization.  The 
groups released a press statement that said armed struggle 
against foreign occupation in Iraq and the Palestinian 
territories is a legitimate right supported by Arab and 
Muslim people, but that the "blind killings and bombings of 
innocent civilians and the damaging of civilian and tourist 
installations contradict Islamic teachings."  The group also 
labeled terrorism as an "excuse for foreign occupation." 
 
------------------------- 
CONDEMNATION THROUGH SONG 
------------------------- 
 
4. Several prominent Jordanian singers recorded "La Ya Amman" 
("No, Oh Amman") in the days after the attacks.  The tune, 
heard every hour on both government and private radio during 
the week following the bombings, is still getting air time. 
The lyrics express anger at the attacks and solidarity with 
the victims and their families.  An accompanying music video, 
recorded in just two days, was also aired frequently on local 
TV. 
 
----------------------------------- 
JORDANIAN BLOGS PILE ON THE BOMBERS 
----------------------------------- 
 
5. Jordanian internet bloggers immediately responded to the 
attacks by posting slogans mourning the victims, condemning 
Zarqawi, and providing photos from outside the bombed hotels. 
 Bloggers have continued to post articles, commentaries, and 
photos of demonstrations and vigils in the days following the 
attacks; some received high-level media attention as their 
sites served as an easy source of information for reporters. 
Many people using Google and other internet search engines to 
find information about the Amman bombings have been directed 
to Jordanian blogs, as the sites are constantly updated and 
heavily linked. 
 
----------------------------------- 
TV PROGRAM DISCUSSES TERROR ATTACKS 
----------------------------------- 
 
6. State-run Jordan TV ran a widely-viewed program on 
November 21 entitled "The Story Revealed" that focused on the 
bombings and included emotional interviews with the bride and 
groom whose wedding at the Raddison was attacked, in addition 
to Queen Rania, Director of the Jordan River Foundation Maha 
al-Khatib, and Jordanian university students. The bride and 
groom's account moved the studio audience to tears, as did 
Khatib,s stories about the cell phones of the victims that 
kept ringing for hours after the attacks.  Queen Rania stated 
that the bombings "defied logic and comprehension." 
 
-------------------------- 
ZARQAWI DISOWNED BY FAMILY 
-------------------------- 
 
7. On November 20, the family and tribe of Abu Musab 
al-Zarqawi disowned him in a large advertisement that was 
carried in several Jordanian newspapers.  The statement, 
which was signed by 76 members of the Khalayleh clan of the 
prominent Bani Hassan tribe, pledged allegiance to King 
Abdullah and denounced all terrorist acts claimed by Ahmad 
Fadeel Khalayleh, Zarqawi's given name.  NOTE: A few embassy 
contacts expressed concern that this disavowal, although 
intended to further damage Zarqawi's tarnished reputation, 
would be viewed by some as a government-directed gesture that 
might reinforce extremist support for Zarqawi and strengthen 
his "lone hero" image.  END NOTE.  On November 29, the same 
newspapers carried another paid advertisement by members of 
the Bani Hasan tribe, that expressed their support for the 
Al-Khalayeh clan's disowning of Zarqawi.  The advertisement 
was signed by hundreds of Bani Hasan tribe members. 
HALE