COMBATING EXTREMISM - JORDAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 AMMAN 007708

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R, P, NEA/PPD, NEA, PRM, OES, PLS PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2015
TAGS: KDEM KMPI KISL KPAO EAID ECON PHUM PREL JO
SUBJECT: COMBATING EXTREMISM - JORDAN

REF: STATE 159129

Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)


1. (S) Summary: Embassy Amman has been working to strengthen
local traditions of dialogue, tolerance, and intellectual
exchange as foils against extremist ideas - and to help such
values emerge where they are absent - for several years. We
use a wide panoply of State Department and other USG programs
to counter extremism. In Jordan, we have a host government
and many local decision-makers among the elite who share this
goal, and understand the vital importance of these efforts.
Many of the USG programs came into existence following 9/11,
but others have been in place for years as an ongoing part of
USG efforts in Jordan and in the region. Local NGOs and
civil society and elite groups that we engage on such issues
number perhaps less than 100, but the audience that they
reach includes the vast majority of Jordanians. Our efforts
to maximize media coverage for these activities, as well as
the influence of returned exchange visitors and other
beneficiaries, encompass all of Jordan. To ensure maximum
effectiveness, it is essential that these programs continue
to receive support so they are not seen as simply short-term
efforts to address the symptoms of the problems of extremism,
but rather as part of an ongoing long-term dialogue between
cultures and faiths meant to truly enhance mutual
understanding. END SUMMARY.

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ENABLING LOCAL ATMOSPHERE
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2. (SBU) The Government of Jordan has an existential interest
in combating Al-Qaeda-style extremism, and has actively
supported fora for tolerance and religious education during
the last year. In November of 2004, Jordan launched the
Amman Message, which argued that authentic Islamic traditions
call for respect for others, tolerance, freedom of
conscience, and the rejection of extremism. The campaign
continued with the International Islamic Conference July 4-5,
which hosted 170 Muslim scholars. Its closing communiqu,
endorsed by authorities ranging from Sheikh Tantawi of
Al-Azhar to Grand Ayatollah Sistani from Iraq, denounced key
elements of Al-Qaeda's ideology.


3. (S) In September 2005, King Abdullah met with Pope
Benedict XVI and called for continuing interfaith dialogue,
coexistence, and shared values between civilizations. Later
in September, the King addressed similar issues before an
audience at Catholic University in Washington, and discussed
what he called Islam's true values of tolerance and
understanding with a group of students at Banneker High
School in Washington, DC. This message receives wide play in
the Jordanian and international media as well. The Charge,
d'Affaires DCM, political section, and Public Affairs Office
all meet with local officials regularly to provide feedback
and suggestions on this message and on possible international
audiences which would be receptive. Though these efforts are
necessarily and must remain behind the scenes, we believe
they are important, as the Palace regularly looks to the
Embassy for reassurance of the importance of this message of
tolerance to the USG.

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EDUCATION
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4. (SBU) Already boasting high literacy (90 percent) and a
secular education system, Jordan has taken the lead on
education reform in the region through its two flagship
reform programs: the Education Reform for the Knowledge
Economy program (ErfKE) and the Jordan Education Initiative
(JEI). Both directly support the Government of Jordan's
policy of using the school system to promote tolerance and
advance a modern, outward looking attitude among Jordanian
citizens. Initiated with USG assistance, these multi-donor
programs seek to transform the way the GOJ provides
educational services, and to prepare youth for the challenges
of the modern job market. Through programs supported by
USAID, the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI),and
Embassy Amman's Public Affairs Office, the USG will provide
assistance valued at more than 45 million USD between FY 2005
) FY 2008 to support these education reforms. U.S.
assistance is working to: connect Jordan's public schools to
broad band internet; rapidly introduce advanced IT equipments
in to the classroom; develop modern digitized curricula to
promote tolerance and improve English language education;
train teachers to better instill creative thinking and
leadership skills within Jordan's youth; support
internet-based &pen pal8 exchanges between Jordanian and
American youth; enhance gender mainstreaming in new
curriculum; and fund extra-curricular programs that provide
youth, mostly female, with IT skills that are in high demand
in today's modern labor market. These programs expose
Jordanians to new ideas that promote tolerance and a more
outwardly focused perspective. Most importantly, these
activities are effective tools for preparing Jordanian youth
for the challenges of the modern job market, decreasing
poverty and diminishing the draw of extremist ideologies. As
a result of these programs, the GOJ has already registered
increased international test scores for students in math and
science (and is now witnessing an unexpected movement of
students from Jordan's highly touted private sector school
system to newly respected public ones.)


5. (SBU) Embassy Amman also hosts the State Department's
regional environment, science, and technology (EST) hub
office. Through programs in Jordan and throughout the
region, our EST office works to support scientific education
and research as a source of understanding and tolerance. By
facilitating linkages in these fields, the EST office helps
keep the region involved and engaged in global developments
in these areas. In September 2005, EST and PA Amman
supported an international conference in Amman on &Engaging
Iraq's Science and Technology Community in Developing Iraq,8
a conference which highlighted the need for scientists to
participate in nation building and in regional and global
cooperation to ensure a logical and scientific basis for
national policies.


6. (SBU) PA Jordan hosts the Regional English Language Office
(RELO) of the State Department's Bureau of Education and
Cultural Affaires (ECA),which has responsibilities for a
number of countries in the region. PA Jordan also hosts the
only PA-run direct English Language Teaching Program in NEA,
the American Language Center. PA's ALC teaches approximately
700 Jordanians, including many university students, American
English with cultural content each session. For the past two
summers, ALC has also reached out to younger students and run
summer sessions for High School students. AMIDEAST has also
begun teaching American English with cultural content over
the past two years, including similar summer sessions for
youth. By directly offering and/or sponsoring regional
participation in training focusing on curriculum content, the
Jordan-based RELO encourages the development of a strong,
professional, and internationally focused English language
teaching program at all levels of Jordan's educational
system. For example, the RELO runs ECA's English Language
Fellow program in the region, which places American TESL
teachers to local training institutions, as well as the
Foreign Language Teacher Assistants program in the region,
which sends approximately a dozen regional English teaching
students to the US to study and teach. PA Jordan looks
forward to joining ECA's successful micro scholarship program
in the coming year, to help sponsor disenfranchised and/or
marginalized Jordanian students to study American English.
Post supplements these RELO activities with a number of other
exchanges, including IV programs focused on TESL and a wide
distribution of the excellent ECA ET magazine, ET Forum.


7. (SBU) International exchange is another tool to fight
extremism, engage Jordanians in an international dialogue,
and encourage modern, quality education. PA Jordan supports
an active Binational Fulbright Commission, the local AMIDEAST
office, and the American Center for Oriental Research in
Jordan, all of which have hosted myriad programs, trainings,
and exchanges over many years focusing on education,
dialogue, and tolerance. AMIDEAST runs a number of active
youth exchange programs, through ECA and MEPI funding,
including participation by a dozen Jordanian high school
students in a summer youth camp in the US, the YES high
school scholarship program for approximately 30 Jordanian
students per year, among others. AMIDEAST also provides
educational advising for Jordanian students, some 1800 of
whom travel to the US to study at the university level each
year (though this number is now at a nearly historic low,
with numbers falling drastically from nearly 2500 in 2001 to
just over 1800 this year). These local partners also support
the PLUS partnership for learning scholars which sends about
5 Jordanians per year to study in the US, the Iearn and LINC
exchanges, and others. The Royal Hashemite Court funds its
own scholarship program to send meritorious Jordanian
students to study in the U.S. and other nations, managing the
program in cooperation with AMIDEAST. These international
exchange programs, like the programs mentioned above,
encourage a global outlook and active engagement in the
broader world community. They are also of particular
importance since they target youth.

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YOUTH
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8. (SBU) As well as supporting the educational efforts
mentioned above, PA Jordan has an active and long-standing
exchange program that focuses on youth leadership. We have
sent many university student leaders on International Visitor
Regional Programs as well as on post-designed single-country
group exchange visits funded by post. 14 university students
are currently in the US on a post-developed and -funded group
exchange program. PA Jordan has also facilitated and/or
sponsored the participation of a number of Jordanian youth
leaders in regional MEPI conferences and programs: four
Jordanian students attended the MEPI alumni conference for
Young Leaders held in Tunis in January 2005. MEPI has been
very active in the area of youth outreach and developing
youth leadership skills in Jordan. Post is also an active
supporter of the Seeds of Peace summer camp program and the
its training seminars offshoots. PA Jordan distributes 2000
copies of &Hi!8 magazine to Jordanian youth through
distribution points such as universities, American Corners,
and AMIDEAST, and is finding that demand is growing,
particularly as we work to ensure that all youth exchange
alumni are added to the distribution list.

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TOLERANCE AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
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9. (SBU) PA Jordan's exchange program also focuses on issues
of interfaith dialogue. In November 2004, we sent a
Jordanian mufti on a regional program focused on &Promoting
Interfaith Dialogue.8 PA Jordan also sponsored a
post-developed and -funded international group exchange
program for a group of Sharia Court judges in September 2005,
and a similar group of interfaith clerics working on dialogue
issues in spring 2005. Through local PA and USAID-provided
funding, PA Jordan also supports follow-on efforts by local
NGOs active in this field, sponsoring workshops, outreach,
and seminars.


10. (SBU) For the past three years, successive PAOs have
developed an active and ongoing dialogue with leaders of
informal social groups (akin to Gulfi Diwaniyya's with
Islamist/Muslim Brotherhood leanings who regularly bring
together twenty-something, lower middle class youth to
discuss US policies and society. As well as providing an
unparalleled sounding board for local reaction to US
policies, these fora provide PAOs the opportunity to set the
record straight regarding misperceptions and
mis/disinformation about US actions. For an even longer
period dating back to the 90,s, PAOs have also had active
relationships with media figures and Op-Ed writers reflecting
Islamist opinion and thinking. Several Embassy sections
annually host series of Iftar dinners during Ramadan to share
in the celebration of the month and to mark American respect
for it and for Islamic traditions.

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MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE
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11. (SBU) In Jordan, the Middle East Partnership Initiative
(MEPI) funds both national and regional programs supporting
reform on political, economic, and educational issues. These
reforms should ultimately lead to a more open, participatory,
and economically successful Jordan, developments that will
help combat extremism and encourage positive global
engagement. From FY02 through FY04, MEPI funding in Jordan
totaled over 14 million USD. MEPI programs strengthened
Jordanian political parties and Parliament, encouraged
transparency and the rule of law (including efforts to
enhance corporate good governance),empowered Jordan's media
and women, and strengthened Jordan's educational system. For
example, Arab Civitas, the Jordan Education Initiative
Discovery Schools, &My Arabic Library,8 and &English in a
Box8 kits, all helped reinforce the teaching of civic rights
and responsibilities and democratic values in Jordanian
primary and secondary schools.

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FOCUS ON PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
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12. (SBU) Embassy Amman hosts the regional refugee
coordinator's office, and follows refugee and Palestinian
issues particularly carefully. Jordanians of Palestinian
origin form the majority of Jordan's population. Attitudes
of Palestinians are therefore particularly important,
especially regarding issues of extremism. The UNRWA program
supported by the USG here in Jordan, like many of the
programs listed above, focuses on the key role of education
in combating extremism.


13. (SBU) UNRWA: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) -- the UN
Agency that was established in 1950 to provide housing,
education, health, and social services to Palestinian
refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon
(currently about 4.26 million persons) )- is currently
implementing one project in Jordan with special U.S. project
funding from the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA)
account that have been designed specifically to combat
extremism in Palestinian refugee camps:

-- LONG-TERM TOLERANCE PROJECT: UNRWA is introducing
mandatory, supplemental curricula in its primary and tertiary
schools that teaches conflict resolution, human rights
awareness and promotes gender equality. (NOTE: UNRWA has no
stand-alone curricula. Per agreement with refugee hosting
nations/authorities, its schools teach either the Jordanian,
Lebanese, Syrian or Palestinian Authority curricula. END
NOTE.) UNRWA's program introduces internet activities,
worksheets, storybooks, and games with a tolerance promotion
message into every access point it can identify in the host
nation curricula (for example, in Social Science, Arabic and
Religion classes),and also attempts for long-term impact by
providing remedial training not just to UNRWA teachers, but
to school supervisors and UNRWA's teacher trainees. State's
PRM bureau provided $1.6 million from 1999-2004 (Germany also
provided $465,000) to help UNRWA launch this program as a
pilot in the West Bank/Gaza (1999),expand it to all of its
schools in the WB/Gaza (2000-2002),and introduce a second
pilot in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon (2003-2004). PRM is
currently providing $589,000 in MRA funds to expand this
project to all 652 UNRWA schools - a target population of
500,000 primary students, 16,000 teachers, 950 head teachers,
250 school supervisors, 530 vocational training center
instructors, 5,300 vocational training students, 55 teacher
training instructors and 1,100 teacher trainees. UNRWA has
conducted attitudinal surveys before expanding its pilot
programs. Amman refcoord and German donors have also
conducted external reviews that suggest this tolerance
program may also be having a positive collateral impact.
Syria's Education Minister, for example, recently agreed to
remove some school texts that UNRWA's tolerance program
managers have identified as incendiary.


14. (SBU) AMBASSADORS, FUND FOR REFUGEES: PRM expanded its
small (under $20,000) quick-impact grassroots NGO program,
the Ambassador Fund for Refugees, to the Middle East in 2002.
Four of the five projects currently being implemented in
this region built computer centers in camps in Jordan, the
West Bank, Lebanon and Syria for Palestinian refugee women
who have had limited access to the Internet due to strong
social prohibitions that prevent them from utilizing the same
facilities as men. PRM has authorized funding for a similar
women-only Internet cafe to be opened in Jordan in 2005-2006.

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ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
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15. (SBU) The United States established a special trading
relationship with Jordan in 1998 under the Qualifying
Industrial Zone (QIZ) program, which requires goods to have
Israeli content. The U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement became
the first U.S. FTA with an Arab nation in 2001. Both give
"Made in Jordan" products preferential access to the U.S.
market and aim to support export-driven economic development.
Together with other forms of U.S. assistance to build
Jordan's capacity to compete in global markets, these trade
agreements will help the GOJ meet the goal of adding 50,000
jobs to the economy annually, which in turn is critical in
combating unemployment and the extremism upon which it
thrives.

--QIZ factories employ some 23,000 Jordanians, mostly in the
garment industry. For the majority women workers, these jobs
represent a source of independent income, increased social
standing, and empowerment. For the large number of rural
families, these jobs have a significant positive impact on
well-being.

--Trade-based economic development will bring with it
diversification, including in more technical fields such as
ICT and pharmaceuticals, fields where Jordan has already made
a mark. Enhanced trade will demand more vocational training,
a more highly skilled workforce, and increasing numbers of
managers. U.S. trade policies toward Jordan have already
shown a path for development of the nation's economy, and
offer hope to younger generations. By highlighting the
benefits of U.S.-Jordan trade, the Embassy will continue to
deliver that message of hope to Jordanians.


16. (SBU) Spurring economic growth throughout the Jordanian
economy is a major objective of our USAID program. The
Jordanian leadership recognizes that a small, resource-poor
country must do everything it can to enhance its competitive
position, and provide its citizens the ability to be players
in the global economy. Economic reforms supported by the USG
over the last several years have significantly changed the
structure of the Jordanian economy, moving it from a statist
orientation to one which is much more market-oriented and
supportive of private sector growth. These reforms have
boosted economic growth rates and provided opportunities and
hope to Jordan's citizens. Maintaining those growth rates
and sustaining hope are critical to blunting the appeal of
extremist ideologies.

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CONCLUSION
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17. (S) The USG is fortunate in Jordan to be working on these
essential issues with engaged and effective local partners,
from King Abdullah, his advisors, and the government, to
local NGOs, academic institutions, and energetic youth
leaders. Jordanians understand that it is the common man
and woman in the Muslim world who is the most likely to
suffer directly from extremism and from terrorist violence.
As they see it, it is their religion and their traditions
that are being hijacked by this extremism. While the USG is
not well-positioned to become directly involved in the
philosophical debate within Islam over the future of Islam
and Muslim-majority societies, we can help support those
elements within these societies who are proponents for
tolerance, engagement, and dialogue. In Jordan, we have been
working to give them the tools and experience to help them
win in this battle. To be successful, our efforts must be
long-range, continuous, and well thought-out. It must be
clear to our partners that we are in this for the long-term.
HALE

HALE