MUQTADA AL-SADR VISITS JORDAN

S E C R E T AMMAN 001285

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2015
TAGS: PREL IZ JO
SUBJECT: MUQTADA AL-SADR VISITS JORDAN

REF: A. STATE 27111

B. 04 AMMAN 03801

C. 04 AMMAN 02069

D. 04 AMMAN 01970

E. 04 STATE 55050

F. TD-314/46280-05

G. TD-314/46286-05

H. TD-314/46312-05

I. TD-314/46263-05

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b and d).


1. (U) Muqtada al-Sadr visited Jordan February 17-19 for
meetings with the King and Prime Minister, and to visit
shrines venerated by Shiites. According to press reports,
the King told Sadr that Jordan was eager to protect Iraq's
unity, and stressed the importance of the political process
and of representative and non-sectarian government. Sadr,
who arrived in Jordan Thursday after visits to Iran, Syria
and Saudi Arabia, publicly praised Jordan's efforts to help
the Iraqi people and the King's international efforts to
promote "true" Islam. After meeting with PM Bakhit, Sadr
told reporters that the incoming Iraqi government should make
it a priority to obtain a timetable for the withdrawal of
foreign troops from Iraq.


2. (S) The chief of Jordan,s General Intelligence
Directorate, Muhammad Dhahabi, told Ambassador February 19
that during his meeting with King Abdullah, Sadr listened
politely to the King,s points on the need for all Iraqi
politicians to push for a government of national unity, to
avoid further fueling the fires of sectarianism, and to
beware of Iran,s influence and the dangers it poses to
Iraqis and all Arabs. In contrast, Sadr was less reticent at
a dinner later that evening at the home of the Royal Court,s
Imam Ahmed Hilayel and attended by a number of senior
Jordanians, and in his other meetings here. According to
Dhahabi, Sadr lectured his hosts on Jordan,s past
relationship with Saddam, and suggested too many Jordanians,
sympathies remained with Iraq,s Baathists or with other
forces responsible for killing Shia civilians. Dhahabi said
that Sadr,s complaints included Jordan,s hosting of two of
Saddam,s daughters.


3. (S) NOTE: As reported refs, Jordan,s security services
closely watch the two daughters, Raghad and Rana, who have
been living in Amman since 2003, in order to ensure that they
do not engage in any activity that could potentially
embarrass the GOJ, including support for the insurgency. Ref
A did not arrive in time for delivery prior to Sadr's
reception, but the King has kept relevant Department
officials apprised of his desire to explore ways to try to
get Sadr to act in a more constructive fashion. END NOTE.
HALE