INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY ADDRESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000139 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2017 TAGS: PREL IZ JO SUBJECT: INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY ADDRESS REF: STATE 3592 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: King Abdullah conveyed to Ambassador his support for the effort the President announced in his Iraq policy address. The Palace will encourage objective media commentary on the strategy. Many Jordanians, however, had taken a skeptical attitude to any U.S. Iraq policy changes even before they were announced. End summary. GOJ Ready to Help -------------- ¶2. (C) While most Jordanians are still absorbing the President's Iraq policy address, the King read it and passed word to the Ambassador January 11 that we can count on his support. There will be opportunities for more detailed discussion early next week. The King also outlined a positive palace press plan, which would emphasize in particular elements of the President's speech that focused on the unity government and its national reconciliation plan. The King especially welcomed, in this connection, the President's reference to the government reforming de-Baathification laws and establishing a fair process for considering amendments to the Iraqi constitution. Street and Chattering Classes Skeptical -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The timing meant that local papers' coverage was based on earlier Washington backgrounders and speculation about the new strategy. All papers ran the announcement of a new strategy as their lead story, with most reports then focusing on the announcement that more troops will go to Iraq, and the U.S. had made mistakes. Opinion pieces were written before the actual speech, but most were already expressing skepticism about any likely U.S. decisions. Most ordinary Jordanians are critical of any U.S. military presence in Iraq, no matter what strategy it pursues. Islamists Out Front with Criticism -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Islamic Action Front deputy Secretary General and spokesman Raheel Gharaibeh told media that the U.S. was "not serious" about making meaningful changes to its approach to Iraq, and predicted that troop reinforcements will only intensify violence there. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Most Jordanians who follow current events were skeptical about U.S. Iraq policy even before the President's address. The Islamic Action Front, as usual, positioned itself on the populist side of an issue on which it knows the government must take an unpopular position. ¶6. (C) Many independent media opinion leaders here are likely to remain unconvinced by the speech, but the palace's press strategy will keep ensure that positive, or at least objective, editorial comment is also injected into the media mix. Ambassador gave a twenty-minute interview to Jordan TV, for use during January 11 evening news. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE