SCENESETTER FOR A/S HILLEN

S E C R E T AMMAN 002854 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR PM AND NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM MASS MARR JO SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR A/S HILLEN REF: A. AMMAN 2403 ¶B. USDAO AMMAN DTG 140528Z FEB 06 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Embassy Amman and the Jordanian government look forward to your visit April 30 to May 3. Jordan is a key partner for U.S. efforts in Iraq, the war against terrorism, regional reform and promotion of moderate Islam, and Israel-Palestinian peace. You are scheduled for an audience with King Abdullah, and for meetings with Prince Faisal and Chief of Staff General Sarayreh. You will also visit the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC),the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB),which is increasingly active in Jordanian defense trade, and the 71st (Counter-terrorism) Battalion. ¶2. (C) The GOJ is in the early stages of fostering the development of a domestic defense industry. Your visit provides an excellent opportunity for the USG to encourage the GOJ to continue to direct this effort into channels that are consistent with GOJ and USG interests and laws, and note that the U.S. can offer advice on how to frame defense trade controls that support this effort while providing maximal space for economic considerations. THE JORDANIAN CABINET ¶3. (C) King Abdullah named Marouf Bakhit Prime Minister on November 24. Bakhit is a former diplomat and retired general. The King instructed the new government to pursue three priorities: a) new security laws to tighten counterterrorism efforts while protecting human rights; b) accelerated political reforms; and c) efforts to alleviate poverty and unemployment. In an effort to balance a budget badly hurt by high world oil prices, the government made further unpopular cuts in fuel subsidies in April. Khatib is serving as Foreign Minister for the second time; he is well known in Washington and is an effective interlocutor. THE U.S.-JORDAN RELATIONSHIP ¶4. (SBU) The Government of Jordan plays a key role in some of the top national priorities of the United States. - (S) Jordan is one of our most important partners in the war against terrorism. The Jordanian and U.S. security services have excellent cooperative relations. In the aftermath of the November 9 Amman hotel bombings, Jordanian public opinion united behind King Abdullah in condemning violence motivated by religious extremism. 
 - (S) The GOJ considers U.S. success in Iraq to be in its vital interest. Jordan provided concrete logistical and political support in the run-up to operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF),and continues to host training for Iraqi police, military personnel, air traffic controllers, central bank experts, and other employees of the new Iraqi government. Over thirty-one thousand Iraqi police cadets have been trained so far at the Jordanian International Police Training Center, established immediately after OIF and funded by the U.S. - (S) Jordan remains an important, positive factor in the Israeli-Palestinian equation. Jordan considers its 1994 peace treaty with Israel to be a cornerstone of its national security strategy, and Jordanian security and military services work closely with their Israeli counterparts, although this relationship stays largely out of sight. The GOJ recently renewed its offer to provide training in Jordan for Palestinian security forces. - (S) With the electoral victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections, there is concern among Jordanians that tensions west of the River Jordan will spill over into this country. Although the GOJ has no sympathy for Hamas, Jordan's demographics and geography make it difficult for the GOJ to refuse all contact with a Palestinian government. Jordan's stated policy on the choices before a Hamas government are consistent with U.S. views. - (SBU) Jordan was a pioneer of economic reform in the Arab world, and continues to work toward political and social reform. Much of the King's base of support among the East Bank population, however, resists some elements of his agenda. East Bank traditionalists, who dominate parliament, largely oppose proposals that would lead to Palestinian-Jordanians -- whom they regard as foreigners -- gaining more representation in the legislature. On social issues, the King's agenda also faces opposition, in this case from a resurgent popular brand of Islam that has made the country notably more conservative over the past generation. - (SBU) Jordanian popular opinion of U.S. policy diverges sharply from the government's close alignment with the U.S. Blunt criticism of U.S. policies in the new media, and in opinion pieces, remains common. U.S. Assistance to Jordan ¶5. (SBU) The GOJ is deeply appreciative of the assistance it receives for the U.S. It puts both military and economic assistance to use in programs that are closely coordinated with the USG. FY 2005 appropriations for assistance to Jordan follow were (in millions of dollars): Economic Support Funds, regular appropriation: 250 Economic Support Funds, supplemental: 100 Foreign Military Financing, regular: 204.352 Foreign Military Financing, supplemental: 100 King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center, multi-year appropriation: 100 Jordan's Defense Industry -------------- ¶6. (C) King Abdullah, a former military officer, takes a personal interest in Jordan's efforts to develop a domestic defense industry, and has directed government support toward it. You may wish to express support for Jordan's plans to develop a defense industry, while reminding the GOJ that it is better in the long run to pursue this goal in a manner that is consistent with our two governments, shared interest in a responsible international defense trade system. You may also wish to point out that the USG is able to offer advice and assistance to Jordan on how to establish a good defense trade control system. ¶7. (U) The flagship of Jordan's nascent defense industry is KADDB, which you are scheduled to visit. ¶8. (S) KADDB,s goal is to limit Jordan's reliance on foreign arms imports, to foster industrial development in the broader economy, and to seek export customers, primarily in the region. Among KADDB,s products are interchangeable barrel handguns, surveillance aircraft, and desert assault vehicles. A KADDB facility is overhauling the entire inventory of Jordan's mechanized forces. This same facility, in partnership with the U.S. defense firm ITT, is refurbishing 2,000 five-ton trucks for the new Iraqi forces, under a contract let by the U.S. military. KADDB hopes to participate in further contracts in support of the U.S. and Iraqi militaries. ¶9. (S) Another military-industrial enterprise, Jordan Aerospace Systems Company (JAC),is owned by the Jordanian Air Force, and provides aircraft maintenance and overhaul services. The RJAF leadership has lobbied recently for contracts for the overhaul of C-130s owned by the governments of Chad and Congo (Brazzaville),though no deals have been reported yet. Rubinstein