GOJ CALLS U.S.-JORDAN-IRAQI FRATRICIDE INCIDENT AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005971

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI JO
SUBJECT: GOJ CALLS U.S.-JORDAN-IRAQI FRATRICIDE INCIDENT AT
FALLUJA "UNINTENTIONAL", WHILE MP'S CONDEMN IT; PRESS
CRITICIZES GOJ REACTION

Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)

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OFFICIAL REACTION
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1. (U) Acting PM Faris Nabulsi stated that the September 12
U.S.-Jordan-Iraqi fratricide incident at Falluja, was
"unintentional" and would not deter the GOJ from its
commitment to assist the Iraqi people. In that incident at
the Jordanian military hospital, a Jordanian sergeant was
killed, and four other Jordanians wounded, in addition to 10
Iraqi police, who were killed. Nabulsi, answering MPs'
questions in the Lower House September 14, described the
incident "as an attack on the hospital perpetrated by armed
Iraqis which led to clashes between the Iraqis and U.S.
special forces." He added that U.S. forces had apologized to
the GOJ and its armed forces and that Secretary Powell had
expressed his regrets to Foreign Minister Muasher. Reports
on these apologies were featured on the front page of all
local dailies.

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MPs REACTION
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2. (U) Members of Jordan's Lower House of Parliament
condemned the U.S. attack. Some deputies demanded a "clear
and frank apology" for the incident. Islamic Action Front
MP, Zuhair Abul Ragheb, claimed the attack was intentional.
He called on the GOJ to hold American forces responsible for
the attack and to seek compensation of "at least" USD 10
million for the family of the deceased. Abul Ragheb added,
"Jordanian blood is not worth less than that of Americans".

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PRESS REACTION
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3. (U) Press reaction, while muted, condemned the attack.
Taher al-Udwan, editor-in-chief of Al-Arab Al-Yawm, an
independent mass-appeal Arabic daily, called it a
"disgraceful" incident and the fact that it was caused by
"friendly fire" made it even "uglier". He further questioned
how such an accident could occur when signs in both Arabic
and English identify the building as a Jordanian military
hospital. Samih Al-Ma'aytah, also writing in Al-Arab
Al-Yawm, criticized the GOJ for calling the perpetrators of
the incident as "unknown", while publishing the U.S. apology.
He opined that Jordanian-American relations can weather
direct criticism by the GOJ against the U.S. Yasser
Za'atreh, of the center-left Arabic daily Al-Dustour, took a
more extremist approach when he stated that "the complex of
fear pushes U.S. soldiers to mistrust and shoot at anything
that moves in Iraq, including Iraqi policemen and those
guarding the Jordanian hospital." He added, "their apology
is rejected, and if the people of Falluja will avenge their
martyrs, then our martyr is their son too, because the blood
is one, when facing the invaders."

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COMMENT
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4. (C) GOJ officials have done their best to minimize the
public impact of the attack on the Falluja hospital; as part
of that effort, they have asked us to minimize further
statements on the incident, grateful as they are for our
quick responses. Jordanian Charge in Baghdad told PolCouns
the morning after the attack that he did not want the
incident to damage public support for future GOJ support to
rebuilding Iraq. He told us September 15 that the Parliament
and press reaction was more muted than they had feared. End
Comment.


5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE