Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN6370
2004-07-27 17:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
JORDAN SEIZED BY HOSTAGE CRISIS IN IRAQ
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006370
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014
TAGS: PTER ASEC JO IQ
SUBJECT: JORDAN SEIZED BY HOSTAGE CRISIS IN IRAQ
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006370
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014
TAGS: PTER ASEC JO IQ
SUBJECT: JORDAN SEIZED BY HOSTAGE CRISIS IN IRAQ
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Two Jordanian truck drivers, who work for a
Jordanian company operating in al-Qaim, were seized by
militants in Iraq on July 26. The kidnappers reputedly have
demanded that the company withdraw from Iraq and pay a
ransom. Despite GOJ advice not to give in to the demands,
their employer decided to announce he intended to "freeze"
its operations there. Under intense pressure from the men's
tribe and families, GID chief Saad Kheir ultimately
acquiesced on "humanitarian" grounds. Jordanians reacted
strongly to the televised images of the two truckers, which
came against the backdrop of news that the brother of one of
Jordan's female members of Parliament was killed in Iraq
under suspicious circumstances. End Summary.
-------------- --
GOJ WORKS FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE BEHIND THE SCENES
-------------- --
2. (C) Jordanian officials on July 27 were preoccupied with
efforts to secure the release of two Jordanian truck drivers
kidnapped July 26 in the Iraqi town of al-Qaim on the
Iraqi-Syrian border. According to press reports, their
abductors threatened to kill them in 72 hours unless their
employer, Daoud and Partners (reportedly a subcontractor of
an American company) agreed to pull out of Iraq. MFA
official Ali al-Ayed identified the hostages as Fayez Sa'ad
al-Adwan from the southern Shuneh area of Jordan and Ahmad
Salameh Hassan, a resident in al-Baqaa Palestinian refugee
camp.
3. (C) During a midday meeting to discuss a separate
matter, General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Chief Saad
Kheir told Charge that he had advised company officials not
to give in to the kidnappers' demands and recommended they
cancel a press conference in which they intended to announce
the cessation of operations in Iraq. He assured the company
that the GOJ was working through the Iraqi security services
and U.S. military to locate the men and secure their release.
Kheir added that one of the family members had received a
$100,000 ransom demand over his cellular phone from someone
who purported to be a kidnapper, but the call could not be
traced and there are doubts about its authenticity. Kheir
confided he was under enormous pressure from the family
members and leaders from Adwan's tribe to win their release
-- and took calls from them throughout the meeting.
4. (C) Two hours later, Kheir called Charge back to relate
a reversal: the company would announce it was freezing its
activities in Iraq to save the lives of its employees. Kheir
said the GOJ would go along with the decision for
"humanitarian" reasons, but he viewed it more as a "tactical"
move because he expected the company to continue operating in
Iraq, and to retain its U.S. contract, perhaps by using a
different name. Kheir added he would not object if the
company decided to pay the kidnappers "under the table" to
ensure the hostages' safety. Charge said that the U.S. did
not support negotiating with terrorists. Acquiescing in
these demands would only invite additional kidnappings.
--------------
JORDANIANS REVILED BY HOSTAGE CRISIS
--------------
5. (C) Jordanians reacted strongly to this latest hostage
crisis in Iraq -- which has suddenly brought the violence
closer to home. Many expressed their revulsion at the
televised images of the two drivers seated on a floor with
six militants menacing in the background, one holding a
sword. Several Jordanian columnists -- likely reflecting
widespread sentiment among ordinary Jordanians -- demanded
the GOJ do whatever it takes to secure the release of their
brethren. Of note, the hostage crisis comes against the
backdrop of news that a Jordanian businessman working in Iraq
-- the brother of Irbid MP Nariman Roussan -- was killed in
Mosul in unknown circumstances. His family members told
reporters that 45-year-old Marwan Zuheir al-Roussan had
received warnings to leave Iraq, but did not specify from
whom.
6. (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.
HALE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014
TAGS: PTER ASEC JO IQ
SUBJECT: JORDAN SEIZED BY HOSTAGE CRISIS IN IRAQ
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Two Jordanian truck drivers, who work for a
Jordanian company operating in al-Qaim, were seized by
militants in Iraq on July 26. The kidnappers reputedly have
demanded that the company withdraw from Iraq and pay a
ransom. Despite GOJ advice not to give in to the demands,
their employer decided to announce he intended to "freeze"
its operations there. Under intense pressure from the men's
tribe and families, GID chief Saad Kheir ultimately
acquiesced on "humanitarian" grounds. Jordanians reacted
strongly to the televised images of the two truckers, which
came against the backdrop of news that the brother of one of
Jordan's female members of Parliament was killed in Iraq
under suspicious circumstances. End Summary.
-------------- --
GOJ WORKS FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE BEHIND THE SCENES
-------------- --
2. (C) Jordanian officials on July 27 were preoccupied with
efforts to secure the release of two Jordanian truck drivers
kidnapped July 26 in the Iraqi town of al-Qaim on the
Iraqi-Syrian border. According to press reports, their
abductors threatened to kill them in 72 hours unless their
employer, Daoud and Partners (reportedly a subcontractor of
an American company) agreed to pull out of Iraq. MFA
official Ali al-Ayed identified the hostages as Fayez Sa'ad
al-Adwan from the southern Shuneh area of Jordan and Ahmad
Salameh Hassan, a resident in al-Baqaa Palestinian refugee
camp.
3. (C) During a midday meeting to discuss a separate
matter, General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Chief Saad
Kheir told Charge that he had advised company officials not
to give in to the kidnappers' demands and recommended they
cancel a press conference in which they intended to announce
the cessation of operations in Iraq. He assured the company
that the GOJ was working through the Iraqi security services
and U.S. military to locate the men and secure their release.
Kheir added that one of the family members had received a
$100,000 ransom demand over his cellular phone from someone
who purported to be a kidnapper, but the call could not be
traced and there are doubts about its authenticity. Kheir
confided he was under enormous pressure from the family
members and leaders from Adwan's tribe to win their release
-- and took calls from them throughout the meeting.
4. (C) Two hours later, Kheir called Charge back to relate
a reversal: the company would announce it was freezing its
activities in Iraq to save the lives of its employees. Kheir
said the GOJ would go along with the decision for
"humanitarian" reasons, but he viewed it more as a "tactical"
move because he expected the company to continue operating in
Iraq, and to retain its U.S. contract, perhaps by using a
different name. Kheir added he would not object if the
company decided to pay the kidnappers "under the table" to
ensure the hostages' safety. Charge said that the U.S. did
not support negotiating with terrorists. Acquiescing in
these demands would only invite additional kidnappings.
--------------
JORDANIANS REVILED BY HOSTAGE CRISIS
--------------
5. (C) Jordanians reacted strongly to this latest hostage
crisis in Iraq -- which has suddenly brought the violence
closer to home. Many expressed their revulsion at the
televised images of the two drivers seated on a floor with
six militants menacing in the background, one holding a
sword. Several Jordanian columnists -- likely reflecting
widespread sentiment among ordinary Jordanians -- demanded
the GOJ do whatever it takes to secure the release of their
brethren. Of note, the hostage crisis comes against the
backdrop of news that a Jordanian businessman working in Iraq
-- the brother of Irbid MP Nariman Roussan -- was killed in
Mosul in unknown circumstances. His family members told
reporters that 45-year-old Marwan Zuheir al-Roussan had
received warnings to leave Iraq, but did not specify from
whom.
6. (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.
HALE