JORDAN ARMED FORCES SEES OPPORTUNITY IN ISF

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002628 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018 TAGS: IZ JO MARR MASS MCAP MOPS PINS SUBJECT: JORDAN ARMED FORCES SEES OPPORTUNITY IN ISF TRANSITION REF: SECSTATE 91327 Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reason s 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) Director of Strategic Planning Brigadier General Mohammad Farghal welcomed news of the USG plan to strengthen the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF; reftel). After being briefed September 3 by DATT and Poloff, Farghal offered assistance in the form of third-party transfers, refurbishing equipment, and technical advice. He stated that Jordan has been a partner to the United States concerning Iraq "from the beginning, and we're not going to change our minds." He stressed that "Iraqi security is our security" and encouraged the sale of U.S. military equipment to Iraq in order to increase interoperability between U.S., Iraqi, and Jordanian weapons systems. ¶2. (C) Farghal suggested that Jordan could send some of its personnel to Baghdad to help the Iraqis navigate the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) processes. He also implied that Jordan could benefit financially by selling U.S. equipment otherwise scheduled for decommissioning, and by refurbishing Iraq's older U.S. equipment in Jordan. Farghal said he would report the ISF transition plan to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Khaled Sarayreh. ¶3. (C) Comment: Farghal's enthusiasm is surely at least in part a reflection of his sense that there is money to be made in Jordanian arms sales/contracts with the ISF. Iraq policy in Jordan is made and managed at higher levels, however. Post will follow up with the Palace to advocate. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman Beecroft