VZCZCXRO5070
PP RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #0305 0341040
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031040Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6830
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000305 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ELA AND NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: COLUMNIST MISCHARACTERIZES U.S. POSITION 
ON REFORM 
 
Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d) 
 
¶1.  (C) On February 2, Fahd Al-Khitan, a columnist and 
managing editor of Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm, wrote a 
bizarre column entitled, "Jordanian-American understandings 
on the limits of reform."  Khitan referred to visits by 
several U.S. officials over the past several weeks, including 
NEA DAS Wittes and a Millennium Challenge Corporation 
delegation.  Khitan asserted that the meetings between 
Jordanian and American officials were "candid and clear," 
particularly when it came to amending the election law "in a 
manner that allows full representation for Jordanians of 
Palestinian origin." Visitors also mentioned women's rights 
and freedom of expression, he noted. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Khitan alleged there was a "long discussion" about 
these issues and that the Jordanians talked profusely about 
the "repercussions of altering the demographic representation 
in Parliament."  Khitan then stated that efforts to explain 
the Jordanian point of view "resulted in an unprecedented 
American understanding of those repercussions and 
consideration," arguing that the Jordanians "found support 
from U.S. Ambassador Stephen Beecroft, who came to a 
different and more realistic conclusion, in view of his 
living the Jordanian reality, compared with that 
long-distance reality of officials in Washington." 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Khitan argued that the visiting officials realized 
that the "realistic alternative--and the one that is 
possible--is taking gradual steps towards reform, especially 
in relation to the election law, and avoiding quick leaps, 
because the results will be catastrophic for Jordan and its 
internal unity."  Khitan concluded that the Jordanian 
government was now "free of external pressures and could 
continue its plans to develop the election law in a manner 
that corresponds to the Jordanian national interest and the 
needs for political reform." 
 
¶4.  (C) A good columnist contact meeting Feb. 2 with Info 
Specialist mentioned the column and said that she and Khitan 
had recently visited a minister for a readout on the future 
of reforms here and whether the U.S. was pressuring Jordan on 
specific issues.  The minister, whom the contact did not 
identify, gave a readout that corresponded closely to the 
assertions in Khitan's column.  Info Specialist concluded 
from other details of the conversation that the source was 
likely Minister for Political Development Musa Maaytah. 
 
¶5.  (C) Comment:  Khitan is generally viewed by Jordanians as 
a right-wing East Banker who opposes expanding rights and 
privileges to Jordanians of Palestinian origin.  Many 
Jordanians also believe Khitan is used by conservative 
elements of the GOJ and its intelligence service to test 
political messages through his writing.  In those respects, 
the column, which is almost wholly inaccurate, reflects 
wishful thinking.  If Maaytah was the source of Khitan's 
article, he may have been making a characteristically awkward 
attempt to throw off the columnist from pursuing a storyline 
about U.S. pressure for reforms.  The GOJ has very actively 
sought to avoid the impression that it is under outside 
pressure to make politically unpopular changes in the way it 
does business.  The Ambassador and staff will continue to 
press vigorously--including with Maaytah--on the need for a 
free, transparent election law, expanded rights for women, 
and freedom of expression. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Background:  Al-Arab Al-Yawm is an independent 
daily that regularly takes editorial stands critical of the 
government and that highlights the views of Jordan's 
opposition. 
Beecroft