HOMELAND SECURITY COORDINATOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003819 SIPDIS FOR S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2012 TAGS: PTER PREL CVIS SUBJECT: HOMELAND SECURITY COORDINATOR REF: SECSTATE 126082 Classified By: EDWARD W. GNEHM FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) In response to Reftel, counterterrorism and homeland security responsibilities fall to a number of agencies in Jordan. The General Intelligence Directorate (GID) is responsible for internal security and most counterterrorism operations in Jordan, and as such has disrupted several terrorist cells in Jordan in the past few years. The Protective Security Directorate (PSD),in close cooperation with the GID, is responsible for maintaining security at all diplomatic facilities in Jordan. The Jordanian Army, which patrols Jordan's borders, has intercepted several groups of terrorists trying to infilitrate the West Bank and Israel with weapons and explosives. The JAF's Director of Military Security also conducts counterterrorism and internal dissident surveillance operations against civilians in close cooperation with the GID and PSD. As responsibilities are split between the agencies, there is no one "national coordinator" for counterterrorism. Said Kheir, as Director of the GID, is the highest-ranking official with counterterrorism responsibilities. The Director of the PSD, Tayseen Shurdom, is also an important point-of-contact on counterterrorism issues. Gnehm