Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AMMAN778
2009-03-26 13:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
JORDANIAN REACTION TO BIN LADIN STATEMENT LIMITED
how-toVZCZCXRO0914 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHAM #0778 0851341 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 261341Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4760 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000778
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REACTION TO BIN LADIN STATEMENT LIMITED
Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000778
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REACTION TO BIN LADIN STATEMENT LIMITED
Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Reaction in Jordan to Usama bin Ladin's most recent
statement, broadcast March 14 on Al-Jazeera, has been muted,
despite bin Ladin's call to use Jordan as a front from which
to "liberate Palestine." In the days immediately following
the tape's broadcast, Jordan's media outlets--including
electronic websites and newspapers--carried factual accounts
of the statement but did not react to or comment on his
references to Jordan.
2. (U) A columnist for the Jordanian daily Al-Dustur,
interviewed on Al-Jazeera, commented that had bin Ladin
succeeded in Iraq it would make more sense to talk about a
second stage--liberating Palestine through Jordan; however,
given present realities, bin Ladin seemed to be "putting the
cart before the horse." Muhammad Abu Rumman, a former member
of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood and now columnist for Al-Ghad,
concurred by noting that after the significant erosion of
Al-Qa'ida in Iraq (AQI),bin Laden's talk seemed unrealistic
and fanciful.
3. (C) Abu Rumman expanded on the points in the Al-Jazeera
interview in a March 22 meeting with PolChief. Bin Ladin's
statement ignored not only the weakness of AQI, but also
Al-Qa'ida's lack of a foothold in Jordan and the improved
performance of regional security forces in combating the
organization. Abu Rumman assessed that the fanciful nature
of bin Ladin's comments accounted for the lack of significant
Jordanian reaction. Another Al-Ghad columnist, Muhammad
al-Momani, provided PolChief with a slightly different take.
Momani said that while this may be the first time bin Ladin
has mentioned Jordan in this context, informed observers have
known for some time that Jordan is in Al-Qa'ida's crosshairs
for its moderate policies and relationship with the West.
Visit Embassy Amman's Website
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
Beecroft
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REACTION TO BIN LADIN STATEMENT LIMITED
Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Reaction in Jordan to Usama bin Ladin's most recent
statement, broadcast March 14 on Al-Jazeera, has been muted,
despite bin Ladin's call to use Jordan as a front from which
to "liberate Palestine." In the days immediately following
the tape's broadcast, Jordan's media outlets--including
electronic websites and newspapers--carried factual accounts
of the statement but did not react to or comment on his
references to Jordan.
2. (U) A columnist for the Jordanian daily Al-Dustur,
interviewed on Al-Jazeera, commented that had bin Ladin
succeeded in Iraq it would make more sense to talk about a
second stage--liberating Palestine through Jordan; however,
given present realities, bin Ladin seemed to be "putting the
cart before the horse." Muhammad Abu Rumman, a former member
of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood and now columnist for Al-Ghad,
concurred by noting that after the significant erosion of
Al-Qa'ida in Iraq (AQI),bin Laden's talk seemed unrealistic
and fanciful.
3. (C) Abu Rumman expanded on the points in the Al-Jazeera
interview in a March 22 meeting with PolChief. Bin Ladin's
statement ignored not only the weakness of AQI, but also
Al-Qa'ida's lack of a foothold in Jordan and the improved
performance of regional security forces in combating the
organization. Abu Rumman assessed that the fanciful nature
of bin Ladin's comments accounted for the lack of significant
Jordanian reaction. Another Al-Ghad columnist, Muhammad
al-Momani, provided PolChief with a slightly different take.
Momani said that while this may be the first time bin Ladin
has mentioned Jordan in this context, informed observers have
known for some time that Jordan is in Al-Qa'ida's crosshairs
for its moderate policies and relationship with the West.
Visit Embassy Amman's Website
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
Beecroft