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