Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN8237
2003-12-17 09:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

CT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR IRAQ

Tags:  PREL MOPS MASS IZ JO 
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170941Z Dec 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008237 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS IZ JO
SUBJECT: CT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR IRAQ

REF: AMMAN 8071

Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008237

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS IZ JO
SUBJECT: CT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR IRAQ

REF: AMMAN 8071

Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Jordan's King Abdullah and U.S. Brigadier General
Harrell (Special Operations Command, Central) signed an
agreement December 15 for Jordan to provide counter-terrorism
training for Iraqi forces with U.S. support. The agreement
provides for counter-terrorism training for Iraqi recruits,
to occur in Jordan. Four consecutive twelve-week training
classes are planned. The first group of approximately two
hundred trainees will arrive in late December, to begin
training January 1. The Government of Jordan has offered to
pay the training costs of the first class of recruits, and
will provide equipment and materials for the training site at
low cost. Ambassador Gnehm accompanied the General to his
meeting with the King at G.I.D. Headquarters.


2. (C) After signing the agreement, General Harrell thanked
the King profusely for his generous support of the program
and complimented the extraordinary capacity of the Jordanian
Special Forces. The King, visibly pleased to hear this,
described several personal interventions he had made with his
commanders regarding the counter-terrorism training. Looking
ahead, the King said he had asked his commanders to identify
a number of star performers to bring back for advanced
training. The King said he would like to think long-term on
counter-terrorism training for the Iraqi forces. General
Harrell replied that advanced training for the outstanding
trainees was an excellent idea.


3. (C) Comment: The Jordanian Special Forces have made every
effort to ensure the success of the counter-terrorism
training program. Unlike other Jordan-based cooperative
training arrangements in support of Iraq, such as the nascent
Iraqi police training center (reftel),planning for the
counter-terrorism training has gone very smoothly and clearly
enjoys direct support from the highest levels of the
government. The King, who discussed the Iraqi
counter-terrorism training program with President Bush during
his recent visit to Washington, has been tremendously
forthcoming, no doubt due in part to his own special forces
background and personal relationships with the commanders
involved.
GNEHM