Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN3566
2006-05-21 08:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #3566 1410859 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 210859Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0508 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003566
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR JO
SUBJECT: A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL
REF: STATE 69112
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE, FOR REASON 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003566
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR JO
SUBJECT: A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL
REF: STATE 69112
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE, FOR REASON 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Assistant Secretary for Political Military Affairs
John Hillen, accompanied by the Ambassador, met May 2 with
Prince Faisal, who is King Abdullah,s brother. Faisal
expressed his appreciation for U.S. support, but stressed
Jordan will need continued assistance to face rising oil
prices and regional challenges. Prince Faisal welcomed the
Antiterrorism Assistance Assessment Team that is scheduled to
visit Jordan in early June (reftel).
2. (C) A/S Hillen updated Faisal on the USG's assessment of
the danger posed by Iran's behavior. Faisal said Iran's
greatest strength is that it has influence in Syria, Iraq,
Yemen, the Gulf, East Africa, and with Hamas and Hizballah.
Faisal speculated that if the U.S. or Israel were to put
direct pressure on Tehran the Iranian regime could respond by
creating regional "brushfires" that the U.S. and Israel would
be forced to deal with. Israel, he said, was the only
country in the region with an anti-ballistic missile
capability and that if the U.S. or Israel were to strike
Iran, Jordan could be exposed to Iranian retaliation. Faisal
noted that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were
worried about domestic Shi'a influences, and shared Jordan's
concern about the prospect of a Shi'a-dominated and
Iranian-influenced Iraq.
HALE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR JO
SUBJECT: A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL
REF: STATE 69112
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE, FOR REASON 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Assistant Secretary for Political Military Affairs
John Hillen, accompanied by the Ambassador, met May 2 with
Prince Faisal, who is King Abdullah,s brother. Faisal
expressed his appreciation for U.S. support, but stressed
Jordan will need continued assistance to face rising oil
prices and regional challenges. Prince Faisal welcomed the
Antiterrorism Assistance Assessment Team that is scheduled to
visit Jordan in early June (reftel).
2. (C) A/S Hillen updated Faisal on the USG's assessment of
the danger posed by Iran's behavior. Faisal said Iran's
greatest strength is that it has influence in Syria, Iraq,
Yemen, the Gulf, East Africa, and with Hamas and Hizballah.
Faisal speculated that if the U.S. or Israel were to put
direct pressure on Tehran the Iranian regime could respond by
creating regional "brushfires" that the U.S. and Israel would
be forced to deal with. Israel, he said, was the only
country in the region with an anti-ballistic missile
capability and that if the U.S. or Israel were to strike
Iran, Jordan could be exposed to Iranian retaliation. Faisal
noted that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were
worried about domestic Shi'a influences, and shared Jordan's
concern about the prospect of a Shi'a-dominated and
Iranian-influenced Iraq.
HALE