Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN5041
2003-08-10 15:02:00
SECRET
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

AFTER THE BOMBING, JORDAN REQUESTS U.S. PROTECTION

Tags:  PREL MOPS PTER IZ US JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T AMMAN 005041 

SIPDIS

CENTCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS PTER IZ US JO
SUBJECT: AFTER THE BOMBING, JORDAN REQUESTS U.S. PROTECTION
FOR ITS RELOCATED MISSION IN BAGHDAD

REF: AMMAN 5006

Classified By: PolCouns Doug Silliman for reasons 1.5 (B)(D)

--------------------------------------------- ----
GOJ REQUESTS USG SECURITY FOR NEW BAGHDAD MISSION
--------------------------------------------- ----

S E C R E T AMMAN 005041

SIPDIS

CENTCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS PTER IZ US JO
SUBJECT: AFTER THE BOMBING, JORDAN REQUESTS U.S. PROTECTION
FOR ITS RELOCATED MISSION IN BAGHDAD

REF: AMMAN 5006

Classified By: PolCouns Doug Silliman for reasons 1.5 (B)(D)

-------------- --------------
GOJ REQUESTS USG SECURITY FOR NEW BAGHDAD MISSION
-------------- --------------


1. (S) Ali al-Ayed, Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher's
Private Office Director, told PolCouns August 10 that,
despite the August 7 bombing of the Jordanian Embassy
building in Baghdad (ref),Jordan wishes to maintain a
diplomatic and security presence in Baghdad. Al-Ayed said
Jordan hopes to move its operations from the ruined chancery
into the current Ambassador's residence. In light of the
"obviously high risk" to Jordanian personnel in Baghdad,
al-Ayed said the GOJ is formally requesting USG security
protection for the relocated Jordanian mission.


2. (S) Al-Ayed said that the USG's agreement (or refusal)
to provide "sufficient and complete security" for the
relocated chancery in Baghdad would weigh heavily in Jordan's
decision to maintain its presence, and the level of activity
and visibility of that presence. Al-Ayed said the GOJ has
indications the Jordanian presence in Iraq is already being
targeted for a second attack. "We can't let this happen
again. We don't want to pack it in and let the terrorists
win."

--------------
SECURITY AT THE ALTERNATE CHANCERY SITE
--------------


3. (C) Al-Ayed said the old Jordanian Ambassador's
residence is located in a quiet part of the al-Mansour
neighborhood of Baghdad, and that several other diplomatic
properties are located on the same block: the Moroccan
Embassy, the Libyan Embassy, and the Libyan Ambassador's
residence. The residence is a large house that has a 25
meter setback from the street in front. He said that the GOJ
would take some measures to increase physical security at the
site, e.g. by installing jersey barriers. However, he asked
for USG assistance in providing "a more visible deterrent" to
new attacks, such as drop bars on the street or permanent
static U.S. military positions in the neighborhood. "After
the bombing, we are a special case, and we need (the USG's)
help."

--------------
ONE JORDANIAN DIES IN BOMBING
--------------


4. (C) Al-Ayed mentioned that the GOJ has determined that
one of those killed in the August 7 blast was a Jordanian
citizen resident in Iraq. The Jordanian, he said, had
apparently been standing in line for consular services
outside the Embassy at the time of the bombing. No Jordanian
government employees had been killed, although some had been
injured, including one security officer whose leg had been
crushed in the explosion.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) Given the helpful role Jordan wishes to play in
rebuilding Iraq, we should do what we can on the security
front to encourage an active Jordanian presence in Baghdad.


6. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE