TFIZ01: JORDAN'S EXPULSION OF IRAQI DIPLOMATS: GOJ

S E C R E T AMMAN 001835

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2023
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ JO
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: JORDAN'S EXPULSION OF IRAQI DIPLOMATS: GOJ
DEFENSIVE AFTER SABRI LETTER AND RAMADAN TV ATTACK

REF: A. (A) FBIS GMP20030325000335


B. (B) FBIS GMP20030325000176

C. (C) FBIS GMP20030325000243

D. (D) FBIS GMP20030325000316

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) Naji Sabri's publicly released March 25 letter
denouncing the GOJ's decision to expel five Iraqi diplomats
(ref A),and Taha Yasin Ramadan's subsequent outburst against
Jordan during a March 25 press conference (ref b),have left
GOJ officials in a state of acute public discomfort as they
seek to defend Jordan's actions. In his letter to FonMin
Muasher, Sabri vented that GOJ intelligence officials
escorted one of the diplomats in question "in an uncivilized
manner from his house in Amman and beat him up, as if he is a
war criminal. They did so while all the faithful and the
righteous Arabs view the Iraqis with pride. This makes me
wonder: O Brothers, what have you left for the
U.S-British-Zionist enemy?" Ramadan's subsequent TV
appearance also singled out Jordan for criticism for
"fulfilling" a U.S. demand to expel Iraqi diplomats when
other Arab states had not, and for claiming that Iraq had cut
off supplies of oil when, according to Ramadan, it had not.


2. (C) These twin Iraqi broadsides forced the GOJ into a
defensive crouch while it engaged in damage control with the
Jordanian public. FonMin Muasher held a press conference
broadcast live on Jordan TV (refs c and d) on the evening of
3/25 in which he reiterated the GOJ's explanation that the
five Iraqis in question were expelled for security reasons
and that the Iraqi government is "fully aware" of those
reasons. He went on to say "If there is Iraqi insistence to
consider the expulsion of the diplomats a U.S. dictate or to
make any other accusations, we will not mind disclosing these
security considerations that will not please any Jordanian or
Iraqi citizen."


3. (C) Muasher's statements make clear GOJ's extreme
sensitivity to the accusation that it is acting at the behest
of the U.S.. It has sought to make the case that its actions
were solely for the protection of Jordan and in no way were
in the service of the U.S. In this formulation, the GOJ took
the action it did not as part of the global U.S. effort to
close down Iraqi diplomatic missions, but rather in response
to the Jordan-specific actions (or planned actions) of the
individuals in question. To underline the point, Muasher
stated that King Abdullah is ready to receive new Iraqi
diplomats and the Iraqi embassy will not be closed.


4. (C) Following his press conference, Muasher called the
Ambassador to ask if the Ambassador could publicly
acknowledge that the U.S. had not requested the expulsion and
reinforce Muasher's public statement that the GOJ's actions
were based on its own criteria. The Ambassador declined, but
said that, if asked, he would make reference to our global
concerns and simply refer to the GOJ any questions about
their actions.


5. (S/NF) According to ORCA, the GID identified seven Iraqi
intelligence agents for expulsion, five with diplomatic
status and two who worked for an Iraqi trade office in Aqaba.
GID confirms that three of the five accredited as diplomats
have been removed. With regard to the two Aqaba trade
officials, they were asked to leave Jordan. However, as of
3/26, we do not know whether they have left. Additionally,
GID detained two Iraqi Airways personnel suspected of being
IIS officers. Their situation as of 3/26 is not clear. ORCA
is working with GID on these issues.

--------------
Comment
--------------


6. (C) This small tempest in a much bigger storm highlights
the dangers the GOJ sees lurking as it awaits the "tipping
point" when a U.S. military victory and clear signs of Iraqi
public happiness with the fall of Saddam transform public
opinion here. Until that point, and as long as most
Jordanians root for Iraqi resistance, the GOJ will bob and
weave as much as it can to avoid connection with U.S.
military actions in Iraq.
GNEHM