JORDAN WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO ISAF ON ELECTIONS

S E C R E T AMMAN 003369 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018 TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL NATO JO SUBJECT: JORDAN WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO ISAF ON ELECTIONS SUPPORT REF: STATE 131480 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (S) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Royal Court Chief Nasser Al-Lozi on December 18. Lozi responded to the Ambassador on December 21, agreeing in principle that Jordan would enhance its planned contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to support the 2009 elections. He asked that the Embassy work with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Khaled Sarayreh to identify specific ways that Jordan could contribute. ¶2. (S) Comment: Post will work with Sarayreh to identify appropriate contributions from the Jordan Armed Forces, recommending 1-2 infantry battalions in addition to its planned 2009 special operations battalion deployment. Sarayreh will likely seek USG assistance to fund the additional deployment. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman Beecroft