JORDANIAN REACTION TO POTUS IRAQ VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007952

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REACTION TO POTUS IRAQ VISIT


Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) A sampling of Jordanian reaction to the POTUS visit to
Iraq on November 27 indicates that many here believe the
visit exposes low morale of U.S. forces in Iraq in need of a
boost and pre-election posturing intended for U.S.
consumption. Press reaction was light yet critical, while
military contacts were solidly behind the President's efforts
and believe it will have a positive effect on the Iraqi
people. End Summary.

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POLITICAL "PRE-ELECTION" POSTURING
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2. (C) Jordanians outside of government whom we talked to
viewed the President's Thanksgiving day visit to Iraq as a
"public relations" pre-election ploy staged for U.S. voters.
Many believed that the "stealthy" trip exposed the failure of
U.S. forces to stabilize security in Iraq and their need for
a "presidential" morale boost.

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PRESS REACTION: LIGHT YET CRITICAL
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3. (C) On December 1, center-left daily Al-Dustour wrote that
President Bush had to visit Iraq in total secrecy due to the
"crisis and state of chaos" in the country. The daily also
criticized the President's meetings with Americans while
sidestepping average Iraqis. It called the "American
Thanksgiving in Iraq" a deception intended for the American
people in contrast to the reality of the Iraqi street where
U.S. soldiers are dying on a daily basis.

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MILITARY CONTACTS: ENCOURAGED BY VISIT
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4. (C) Contrary to this editorial, contacts within the
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) present an opposite opinion.
JAF counterparts are solidly behind the efforts by the
President, are encouraged by his willingness to visit Iraq,
and believe the visit will have a positive effect on the
Iraqi people. Military interlocutors nearly unanimously
state that it is an illustration of the courage of the
Administration. They believe that the visit showed the
personal desire of the President to reach a solution to the
conflict, and that his presence may illustrate to the Iraqi
people that the U.S. is intent to see the political
transition through to its conclusion.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) For those Jordanians who noticed the President's trip,
most put it in the context of troop morale building and U.S.
domestic politics, not an effort to help the rebuilding of
Iraq.


6. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.

Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/

or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET
home page.
HALE