KING ABDULLAH DISCUSSES POLICE/MILITARY TRAINING

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005094

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS IZ JO KTER
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH DISCUSSES POLICE/MILITARY TRAINING
FOR IRAQ AND U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE WITH CODEL DASCHLE


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

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SUMMARY
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1. (S/NF) King Abdullah told CODEL Daschle January 20 that
he shared their concerns over whether current training
programs for the Iraqi military and police would allow Iraqis
to assume responsibility for their own security without a
significant U.S. troop presence. The King pledged that
Jordanian special forces and military trainers would continue
to play a "quiet" role in Iraq, but said that sending troops
openly -- even in response to a request for Arab help by
interim Iraqi PM Allawi -- was unlikely given Jordan's shared
border with Iraq and the Hashemite link with the old Iraqi
monarchy. The CODEL promised to help seek additional
military assistance for the Kingdom in light of the
challenges Jordan faced in securing its borders, especially
with Saudi Arabia. End Summary.

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IRAQI POLICE/MILITARY TRAINING
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2. (C) Senator Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Senators
Joseph Biden and Lindsey Graham (CODEL Daschle),accompanied
by the Ambassador, met June 20 with King Abdullah in Amman.
The CODEL briefed the King on their recent visit to Iraq,
including their very favorable impression of interim Prime
Minister Allawi, whom they described as a strong and
realistic leader, and their concern over the unstable
security situation. The Senators also shared their positive
impressions of the Iraqi police training facility in Jordan,
which they had just toured. While thanking the King for his
efforts to help train the new Iraqi security services, the
CODEL expressed doubts whether the Iraqi military and police
would be able to maintain security without a substantial U.S.
troop presence in the foreseeable future.


3. (C) The King agreed with the CODEL that the police
training program should be extended if possible beyond the
current 8 week duration given the limited skills of new
recruits and the serious security challenges present in Iraq.
The King said the same also applied with respect to the
Iraqi military training program conducted in Jordan. The
Jordanian armed forces, according to the King, are currently
identifying the "cream of the crop" of Iraqis coming for
basic military training and then bringing them back for
further, advanced instruction at GOJ expense.

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ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ
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4. (S/NF) Responding to a question on deploying Jordanian
security personnel, the King stated that a limited number of
Jordanian special forces and military trainers were already
"quietly" operating in Iraq. Sending additional forces,
however, was a charged political issue that would depend on
the stance of PM Allawi and other factors. A direct plea by
Allawi for Arab help could pave the way for an open
deployment of Jordanian security trainers, but the
possibility of Jordanian troops on patrol in Iraq was
unlikely given Iraq's shared border with Jordan and the
Hashemite family's connection to the old Iraqi monarchy.

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BORDER SECURITY CONCERNS
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5. (S) The CODEL noted that Jordan had been a firm ally in
the global war against terror and asked the King to briefly
talk about his request for additional U.S. military
assistance, which he had raised on Capitol Hill during his
June visit to Washington. The King replied that although
Jordanian forces were successfully policing the Iraqi and
Syrian borders, they were stretched far too thin to
adequately monitor Jordan's long, open border with Saudi
Arabia. King Abdullah stated that Jordanian forces along the
Saudi border had already intercepted six or seven groups
intent on "causing problems" in southern Jordan or crossing
over into Israel. The requested $400 million in military
assistance would greatly help combat this potential threat,
mainly by providing advanced technology and a C4ISR program
to secure Jordan's borders. The King said that a specific
breakdown of the request and the equipment desired had
already been provided to the Pentagon.


6. (C) All three Senators said they understood Jordan's need
for security assistance and were strongly supportive of the
King's request for additional military aid. They pledged to
work in Washington to seek additional funds for Jordan.


7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

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GNEHM