JORDAN-IRAQ HOSTAGE CRISIS ESCALATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006507

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2014
TAGS: PTER ASEC JO IQ
SUBJECT: JORDAN-IRAQ HOSTAGE CRISIS ESCALATES

REF: A. AMMAN 6456

B. AMMAN 6370

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


1. (U) Jordanian officials on August 3 confirmed that yet
another Jordanian has been kidnapped in Iraq, bringing the
total number of hostages to seven. Foreign Minister Muasher
said that the government is exerting "huge" efforts to win
their release, and is keeping the families apprised of
developments. He added that the ministry had full names of
the hostages and is in contact with all the "related
parties," but he refused to divulge details. He noted that
the GOJ's efforts are complicated by the fact that the
kidnappers have not issued specific demands from the
Jordanian government.


2. (U) Family members of two of the four truckers seized on
July 27 told reporters they have been in contact with the
purported kidnappers, who assured them of the hostages'
safety (for now). Family members of Ahmad Abu Jafaar said
they received several phone calls on July 31 and they were
able to speak to Ahmad, who assured them he was in good
hands. Dubai television reported the same day that the
kidnappers of the four had telephoned the station to complain
no one had contacted them to see their release and threatened
to "change the treatment" of the captives. The station had
aired video of a group calling itself "Death Squad of
Mujahideen of Iraq" that claimed to hold the four truckers.
The militants called on the Jordanian people to pressure
their government to end its support for U.S. forces and for
companies that deal with them to pull out.


3. (U) According to family members, the abductors asked
them to organize a protest to show support for the armed
group and its resistance against U.S. forces, which was held
after Friday prayers in Irbid. According to Abu Jafaar, "We
did it to help release our brothers." Al-Jazeera aired
footage of an unidentified man addressing a group who were
holding pictures of the kidnapped Jordanians. He said: "We
know that the Islamic resistance in Iraq is an honorable
Islamic resistance calling for jihad for the sake of God. We
all sacrifice ourselves to pursue jihad for the sake of God.
Accordingly, we ask them to release our brothers who have
always served the Iraq people."


4. (C) Comment: While most Jordanians condemn the
kidnappings of their countrymen, many nevertheless blame an
unpopular U.S. occupation for the chaos in Iraq and resulting
hostage situation. Expressions of empathy for the kidnappers
and their cause of "resistance," as well as calls for the GOJ
to scale back its support for our efforts in Iraq, may
increase as the crisis drags on.


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.
HALE