IN PROOF OF PRINCIPLE, U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT

S E C R E T AMMAN 003581 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS JO IZ SUBJECT: IN PROOF OF PRINCIPLE, U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM IRAQ TRANSITS JORDAN SUCCESSFULLY Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Equipment Transits Jordan Without Incident -------------- ¶1. (S) In a proof of principle operation, 30 Defense Logistics Agency-leased containers transporting excess water purification units, trailers, and Humvees from Camp Taqaddum in Iraq, bound for the United States, reached the Jordan-Iraq border on August 18 at Trebil-Karama. The containers then arrived at the commercial port of Aqaba on August 19 without incident and, after being washed and staged for shipment, were loaded onto the Maersk Dubrovnik on August 24. The ship sailed on August 25 for Charleston, SC for follow-on truck transport to Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, FL. Jordanian Security Services Support Transit -------------- ¶2. (S) After initial discussions between the Ambassador and the Jordanian leadership about the general idea of moving U.S. military equipment through the country and in the lead-up to this proof-of-principle operation, the Embassy's DATT coordinated closely with the GOJ via discussions with the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans, Brigadier General Mohammed Abadi, and with Brigadiers General Hasan Mustafa and Omar Al-Khaldi, key JAF logistics officers. The DATT also consulted with the Deputy Director of Jordan customs Bashar Khasawneh. Jordan's General Intelligence Directorate (GID),which has a significant role in the security of Jordanian ports of entry, was informed of the shipment by the JAF and by the Embassy. ¶3. (S) These preparatory meetings helped secure the support and coordination of the various Jordanian security services at the shipment's point of entry and along the land route to Aqaba. The Jordan Armed Forces, per Embassy guidance, offered low-profile security for the shipment, providing unmarked security cars to lead and follow the 16-vehicle convoy. (Each truck transported two containers, with one truck serving as a back-up in case of a breakdown.) Similarly, GID's border officer awaited the convoy at the crossing. The convoy then passed through the Jordanian border and customs procedures within an hour - an unusually quick timeframe. (Note: It typically takes one hour for inspection and transit of a single commercial container. End note.) ¶4. (S) Close coordination between the Embassy, Logistics Directorate (CCJ4),Centcom Deployment Distribution Operations Center (CDDOC),Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) and USMC Coordination Detachment in Kuwait, was also critical to ensuring a smooth transit of the equipment. ¶5. (S) The Agility transportation company transported the containers from Iraq to Aqaba and the shipment was secured by TMG during transit through Jordan. CDDOC reported that this example of commercial door-to-door shipping as well as private security worked well. Embassy will conduct an after-action review to identify key lessons for any future replication of this southbound movement of equipment. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ Hale