TFIZO1: 99 PROMINENT JORDANIANS LETTER EXHORT KING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001954

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM IZ JO
SUBJECT: TFIZO1: 99 PROMINENT JORDANIANS LETTER EXHORT KING
ABDULLAH TO TAKE TOUGHER STANCE AGAINST IRAQ WAR

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm. Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) On March 31, Al Arab Al Yawm newspaper published an
open letter to King Abdullah, signed by 99 prominent
Jordanians, urging the King to toughen his stance against the
"U.S. aggression" in Iraq. The letter's signers include
former prime ministers, ministers, deputies, former
intelligence officers, Islamists, and a communist party
leader. The letter requests that the King condemn the
"illegitimate aggression" against Iraq and its people and
subsequently, after the war has ended, "to refuse to
recognize any political or legal outcomes of the aggression."
Anxiety about the letter and the gap between public opinion
and Iraq policy could spark more declarations from the GOJ on
the need to end the war. End Summary

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Jordanian Who's Who
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2. (C) The letter sparked interest both for its content and
for its "who's who" of prominent --if historical-- Jordanian
political figures. Among the signers are former prime
ministers Mudar Badran, Ahmad Obeidat, Taher Masri and Abdur
Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh, former Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Majali,
Islamist activist Leith Shbeilat, an Islamist sentenced to
death for conspiring against the State in 1992, and Yacoub
Zayaddine, a veteran communist leader.

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Letter's Request to the King
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3. (C) The letter urges King Abdullah to condemn strongly
"the US aggression", citing astonishment at the lack of an
official Arab position that "rises to the level of people's
conscience." The letter further states that only by standing
with Iraq, in its time of need, will Arab governments be able
to defend their own legitimacy in light of the American
aggression. The letter, goes further by urging the King "to
refuse to recognize any political or legal outcomes of the
aggression."

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Grab bag of Old Tired Issues
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4. (C) The letter justifies these requests by pulling
together a tired set of knee-jerk -- but nonetheless,
emotionally powerful -- pan-Arab ideals and East Bank fears:
Arab solidarity against "aggression," the need for
"international legitimacy" (i.e. the UN),and the fear that
Israel harbors plans to expel Palestinians to Jordan. It is
also interesting that the letter calls on the King only to
"push forward the rising international efforts that seek to
condemn the Anglo-American aggression against the land and
people of Iraq." It does not suggest support for Saddam
Hussein or the Iraqi regime, nor does it call for expulsion
of U.S. forces from Jordan (a demand of most anti-war
activists).

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Letter Causes a Stir at the Palace
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5. (C) Minister for Palace Affairs Faisal al-Fayez and
Planning Minister Bassam Awadallah told the Ambassador
separately that the Palace is quite upset by the letter.
Fayez was scathing in his attack on the signatories -- saying
they each had their own personal agenda and most wanted a
job. Although the letter's message will not affect the GOJ's
support for our effort, Fayez said, the Palace has to take
notice, since "ninety percent" of Jordanians agree with its
content. Fayez said those in the Palace are feeling a need
to "protect the King," hinting that senior officials may
consequently make stronger calls for an end to the war and
deplore more loudly the civilian casualties.

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They just want the King to remember the past
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6. (C) Peace activist and political science professor
Mohammed Kheir Mustafa told PolCouns April 1 that the letter
represents old-line East bankers' attempt to consolidate
opposition to the war with pan-Arab slogans -- and to get the
King on board. By contrast, human rights activist Fawsi
Samhoury (strictly protect) was uncharacteristically cynical
about the letter and those who signed it. He said the group
was composed of political has-beens and supporters of the
late King Hussein who are now "on the outside." He noted
wryly that many of them also have investments in Iraq which
might be hurt by a more open political and economic system
there.
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Comment
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7. (C) The letter is a shot across the King's bow by many of
his father's closest advisors and political supporters. Its
directness and -- in a culture that emphasizes respect for
authority -- its rudeness have great shock value. Two of the
signers told the press that they hoped to use the letter
merely to get the King's attention. More than likely,
members of this group no longer command King Abdullah's
attention as they once commanded King Hussein's.


8. (C) That said, the letter has the potential to focus
opposition to the war, and does point out the great
disconnect between popular attitudes to the war and
government policy. This makes the King's advisors very
nervous, and we are likely to see at least some of them
taking a stronger anti-war stance in public to shield
themselves and the King from public ire.
GNEHM