JORDANIANS IN CUSTODY IN IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003230

SIPDIS

CPA FOR AMB BREMER
FROM AMBASSADOR GNEHM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ US JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIANS IN CUSTODY IN IRAQ


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


1. (U) This is an action request for CPA, CENTCOM, and
CJTF-7. See para 4 below.

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JORDANIANS IN CUSTODY IN IRAQ
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2. (C) Let me take this opportunity to offer my sincere
appreciation for your continuing efforts in Iraq. As we have
discussed on your visits to Amman, the government of Jordan
has gone to extraordinary lengths to support the U.S. and
Coalition goals of restoring stability and prosperity to Iraq
through police and military training, training of Iraqi
government employees, and extensive contacts and assistance
to Iraqi ministries. Because of its support for the new
Iraq, the GOJ has come under increasing criticism from
domestic critics for "supporting the occupiers" in Iraq.
Despite this criticism, the GOJ has persevered in its efforts
to help Iraq. They know that doing so serves their own
strategic interests, as well as others.


3. (C) There have been persistent reports of the detention
of Jordanian citizens in Iraq. CPA and CJTF-7 have in the
past helped us to identify more than forty Jordanians who
were held in Coalition military custody and subsequently
released. Members of the Jordanian Parliament have recently
alleged that more than 1000 Jordanian citizens are in
Coalition custody in Iraq. While neither we nor the GOJ
believe that this figure is accurate, neither do we have
current and solid information to refute these allegations.
Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry asked us April 25 to
provide as complete an accounting of Jordanian citizens in
custody in Iraq as possible -- whether in CPA, CJTF-7, or
Iraqi police custody, or incarcerated in the Iraqi prison
system. The Jordanian MFA does not want opposition members
of Parliament to use these allegation to further undercut
Jordanian support for Iraq.

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ACTION REQUEST
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4. (C) I would therefore like to ask your help in providing
as complete a list as possible of all identified Jordanians
currently in CPA or Coalition military custody. In addition,
we also need to get an informed estimate of the aggregate
number of Jordanians incarcerated in the Iraqi justice system
(police or court detention and prison). If CPA or CJTF-7 are
unable to provide a reliable estimate of Jordanians held in
Iraqi custody, I would appreciate any information you could
provide that we could give to the Jordanians so they can
direct their queries on this matter to the proper Iraqi
authorities. Allow me to once again extend my appreciation
and support to you and each coalition member in your efforts
to build a better Iraq. Warm regards, Skip Gnehm.


5. (U) 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.
GNEHM