C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009916

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2014
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL MASS IZ JO
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL GROVE MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL

Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d)

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Summary
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1. (C) In a meeting with Staffdel Grove on December 8, Prince
Faisal advocated support for Jordan's current military
funding request, focusing on border security needs. He
presented a positive long-term view of Iraq and highlighted
opportunity in the Arab-Israeli conflict, while dismissing
Syria as uncommitted to reform and peacemaking. End Summary.

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FMF
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2. (C) Prince Faisal (acting as regent in the absence of King
Abdullah) discussed December 8 with Staffdel Grove Jordan's
revised request for USD 500 million in military funding. He
described border security as one of the request's top
priorities. Faisal used the recent incident at the
Karamah/Trebil crossing between Jordan and Iraq, where U.S.
marines came under mortar attack, as an example of why border
security was such a priority. He explained how the driver of
an SUV laden with explosives had used the diversion provided
by the mortar attack to try to run the border checkpoint.
According to Faisal, the detonator failed, the driver was
apprehended, and later revealed that he was trying to target
a large fuel depot.

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Iraq
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3. (C) On Iraq, Faisal said he believed that things would get
worse before they get better. In the long term he thought
Iraq would be a success story because the will of the
international community demanded it. With regard to the
timing of elections, Faisal believed there would always be
some Sunni elements that would continue to create violence in
order to indefinitely delay voting. At some point, he said,
elections would have to go forward regardless, but conditions
must be sufficiently stable to have a fair electoral campaign
without threat to Sunni voters or candidates. Faisal clearly
saw the irony of how violence could prompt the postponing
elections, while elections could impart legitimacy and reduce
the justification for violence. "You're damned if you do and
you're damned if you don't," he stated.

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Arab-Israeli Conflict
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4. (C) Faisal felt there was an opportunity for progress in
the peace process, but cautioned that there would always be
elements on both sides that would actively resist the will of
the majority who wanted an end to the conflict. He stated
that those who wanted peace needed to have a strong
commitment in order to weather the attacks from those who
opposed a peaceful resolution. According to Faisal, Egypt
must play the more proactive role because of its ties to
Gaza, though he cautioned that Egypt did not always act for
the parties, shared interests. Faisal felt that the U.S.
should play a more "enabling" role in the peace process and
could still act as an "honest broker." He noted the
importance of President Bush's statements calling for a
two-state solution.

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Syria
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5. (C) Faisal saw Syria as only doing the minimum necessary
to placate the demands of the international community. He
did not see Syria making honest efforts to help stabilize
Iraq or to aid the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.


6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE