PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ACTION PLAN: WMD- JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003111 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2012 TAGS: ASEC KPAO OPRC OIIP PTER PARM SUBJECT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ACTION PLAN: WMD- JORDAN REF: STATE 109724 Classified By: PAO DANA SHELL SMITH, REASONS 5 (B & D) ¶1. EMBASSY AMMAN AGREES THAT SUBJECT PLAN IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL. THE GOJ ALREADY HAS A VERY HELPFUL POSITION ON THE ISSUE OF WMD AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT PROACTIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THE ISSUE WILL BE USEFUL WITH OUR AUDIENCE. GIVEN THE CURRENT POLITICAL REALITIES IN THE REGION, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON WMD HERE WILL ONLY ELICIT NEGATIVE REACTIONS EMPHASIZING THAT ISRAEL MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE NUCLEAR PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOPIC WILL BE SEEN AS JUSTIFICATION FOR AN ATTACK ON IRAQ. EMBASSY AMMAN WILL, HOWEVER, BE PLEASED TO HIGHLIGHT THE WMD WEBSITE ON OUR HOMEPAGE. Gnehm