This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

020844Z Jul 04

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005431 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2014 
TAGS: PREL IZ JO
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH WELCOMES IIG; PRIVATE JORDAN 
REACTION SKEPTICAL 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 5353 
 
     ¶B. AMMAN 5385 
     ¶C. AMMAN 5415 
 
Classified By: DCM David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The official GOJ reaction to the surprise 
early transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government 
(IIG) was strongly positive.  King Abdullah sent separate 
congratulatory messages to President al-Yawar and Prime 
Minister Allawi pledging Jordan's full support to ensure 
Iraqi security and stability.  Press commentary proved to be 
mixed, however.  Privately, our contacts see the transfer of 
sovereignty as a step in the right direction, but expect the 
violence in Iraq to continue.  Along with much of the 
Jordanian street, they are also skeptical that the U.S. will 
allow the IIG to exercise full sovereignty, especially 
concerning military operations and actions of the 
multi-national forces (MNF).  End Summary. 
 
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OFFICIAL AND PRESS REACTION TO TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2. (U) Public GOJ reaction to the surprise June 28 transfer 
of sovereignty to the IIG was resoundingly positive.  King 
Abdullah sent separate messages to President al-Yawar and 
Prime Minister Allawi expressing Jordan's full support for 
Iraq and backing "for all the measures that the Iraqi 
government will take to guarantee its security and the 
stability of Iraq."  The King told Allawi in his public 
letter that "the unification of the people of Iraq is the 
guarantee that will foil attempts by those who want to 
undermine Iraq's stability and its process for 
democratization." 
 
¶3. (U) Press commentary before the handover predicted a near 
doomsday scenario, claiming that average Iraqis expected a 
spike in violence and were hoarding food and water.  The 
immediate reaction after the handover remained skeptical, 
with some commentary describing the transfer as "another act 
in a play" and the new IIG as "nothing but the tails of the 
crusaders."  One op-ed characterized the transfer of 
sovereignty as nothing more than a "protocol exchange of 
papers between Bremer and Allawi."  Negative media reactions 
were tempered by positive remarks calling upon 
multi-national forces to remain until the security situation 
improved, reflecting the views of many educated, elite 
Jordanians.  Much of the Jordanian "street," on the other 
hand, views actions against the multi-national forces as part 
of the "noble resistance," and contends that the presence and 
behavior of MNF troops provokes violence in Iraq. 
 
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PRIVATE REACTION 
---------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) In private, our contacts responded positively to the 
transfer, but questioned the extent of Iraq's sovereignty. 
University of Jordan professor Dr. Bashir al Khadra, for 
example, said there would not be true sovereignty until there 
are free elections, and the continued presence of MNF, though 
necessary, is a constant reminder of occupation.  Human 
rights activist Dr. Fawzzi Samhouri saw the transfer of 
authority as cosmetic because it was not clear, in his view, 
that the Iraqis were truly calling the shots.  He criticized 
the appointment of Iyad Allawi as PM believing that Iraqi 
Sunnis would not support a Shi'a PM.  Further, many 
Jordanians are dubious about Allawi's previous purported 
association with the CIA.  Former MP and businessman Muhammad 
al-Kouz said he expected the IIG to fail because it did not, 
he claimed, have the means to achieve stability.  In a June 
28 embassy tea with twelve MPs selected for an International 
Visitor program, PolOff observed the MPs were more interested 
in the security situation in Iraq than the handover. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶5. (C) The King and his foreign policy and security advisors 
see in the emergence of known, credible leaders in the IIG, 
and the smooth transition of authority, a hopeful sign. 
However, average Jordanians tend to view the handover as a 
positive but insufficient step in restoring Iraq's 
independence.  Many will remain skeptical of the extent of 
the IIG's sovereignty as long as large numbers of U.S. troops 
are present. 
 
¶6. (U) AMEMBASSY Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page 
 
 
 
GNEHM