JORDAN BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000203 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2015 TAGS: ETTC KOMC JO SUBJECT: JORDAN BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES OF REGISTERED BROKER MAJDI M. MURAD (CASE NUMBER K-1828) REF: A. A) WILSON-JOUBERT-LIN EMAIL NOV 09 ¶B. B) 09 STATE 99520 Classified By: DCM Lawrence Mandel for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Economic Section and Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) LESs conducted initial/preliminary database searches on this firm through Government of Jordan (Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)) on-line records and indentified no pertinent information. ¶2. (SBU) Blue Lantern Officer, accompanied by LES assistant, met with Mr. Majdi Murad, International Trading Agencies Group (ITAG),on 8 December 2009, who reported a long relationship with the governments of Jordan and the United States, currently as a facilitator and representative of several U.S. companies. Murad stated that he only/only deals with the U.S. or Jordanian governments, and has no private customers. ¶3. (C) Murad explained that his sole business partner (not including one technical assistant) was (local political heavyweight) Nader Abdul Hai Al-Majali. Al-Majali is the nephew of a former Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament; this connection alone would indicate high-level influence by this pair within the Jordanian government. ¶4. (SBU) Murad reported he was educated in the U.K., and then worked as a consultant in Saudi Arabia. Prior to the 2003 Iraq war he re-entered the government arena as a sub-contractor to Muhammad Daoud and Company (past part-owner of Daoud Company was former chief of the Jordanian Royal Court and senior advisor to King Abdullah, Dr. Bassem Awadallah),and was involved in contracts building housing for U.S. forces that were in Jordan in 2003. He subsequently facilitated construction projects, and had food procurement contracts to supply U.S. forces in Iraq. ¶5. (SBU) Murad described partnerships with several U.S. businesses, noting that he has been a regional agent for the "Fido XT" explosives detector (ICX Technologies, 2100 Crystal Drive, Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-678-2111) since ¶2004. Murad assured EmbOff that he was well aware that Fido was a critical security instrument and he ensured it was properly protected -- each individual unit was personally controlled by either himself or his sole technical assistant. Murad repeated several times his emphasis on keeping defense and security technology, "out of the hands of the bad guys." Murad stressed his primary objective was advancing U.S. and Jordanian joint interests, and he was quick to point out that all four of his children are American citizens. ¶6. (C) A Jordanian of Syrian descent, and owner of a well-know local restaurant, Murad is highly-regarded -- and apparently well-connected -- in Amman. He is rumored to be personal friends with Prince Faisal, King Abdullah's brother, and with former Chief of the Royal Court Awadallah, who described Murad merely as an "acquaintance," rather than a friend, but nevertheless spoke highly of him to an Embassy Locally Engaged Staff member. ¶7. (C) Conclusion: Based on initial impressions Murad appears established and well-connected within the upper levels of the GoJ. His company appears to be how he represents it and legitimately involved in the business he reports to be engaged in. ¶8. (U) Corrected address/contact information for this firm is: MAJDI M. MURAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR ITAG (International Trading Agencies Group) SAAD ZAGHLOUL ST., VILLA 97 ABDOUN, AMMAN JORDAN TEL: 962-6-593-7888 (CELL: 962-79-527-2626) FAX: 962-6-593-7890 Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://diplopedia.state.sgov.gov/index.php?ti tle=Embassy Amman Beecroft