PROPOSED NEW UNSC RESOLUTION COULD HELP JORDAN DO

S E C R E T AMMAN 005764

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IZ JO UNSC
SUBJECT: PROPOSED NEW UNSC RESOLUTION COULD HELP JORDAN DO
MORE FOR IRAQ

REF: STATE 256598

Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b)(d)


1. (C) The proposed new U.S. draft UN Security Council
Resolution on Iraq contains several elements that will please
the Jordanians. First, it asks that Iraqis come up with a
timetable for transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis. Senior
Jordanian officials have repeatedly encouraged the coalition
to go public with a reasonable -- and achievable -- timetable
for formation of an elected Iraqi government and full
transfer of authority. Second, the UNSCR draft mandates a UN
force and asks other nations to contribute. This could
provide Jordan the international cover it needs to support a
stabilization force in Iraq more actively and directly.


2. (S) We believe that a new resolution as outlined in ref
would go a long way toward addressing Jordan's domestic
political complexities should it commit police or military
forces for Iraq. The resolution would give a multinational
force "international legitimacy" in the eyes of most
Jordanians, and there would likely be less strident domestic
objection to a Jordanian contribution.


3. (S) COMMENT: There is still considerable latent
resentment in Jordan over the presence of foreign "occupiers"
in Iraq, and many Jordanians -- including Islamist members of
Parliament -- could accuse the GOJ of supporting "occupation"
by contributing troops to a UN force. Given these and
broader Arab reservations, we believe that it will be
difficult for the King to participate overtly in a UN force
without other Arab participation. That said, we note that
the deployment of a Jordanian Armed Forces field hospital in
Falluja has drawn little domestic criticism.


4. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.
GNEHM