MONTHLY REPORT--JORDAN BUREAU--MARCH 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300540010-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: April 7, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/08: CIA-RDP86-00040R000300540010-3
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7 April 1985
MJN 8508
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information
Service
THROUGH: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report--Jordan Bureau--March 1985
I. GENERAL
The Embassy's search for property sites suitable for
a new Embassy compound gained momentum during the month
with the arrival of a State Department site selection team
from Washington. The team and Embassy jointly narrowed
the list of potential sites, with the leading candidates
at the moment being two tracts in Abdun, in the southeast
section of Amman near the 5th Circle. The selection team
will be returning to Amman in April for final determination
of the Embassy site. Initial checks in Abdun indicate
that the new site may result in improved reception generally.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. The Iraq-Iran war escalated once again as each
side initiated artillery and missile attacks on the other's
cities. The bureau remained open the night of 5-6 March
to cover Baghdad media for possible reports on the inten-
sified fighting. The "war of the cities" continued through-
out the month, eventually including the capitals on both
sides, while Iraqi planes maintained the pressure with more
missile attacks on tankers found in the waters around Khark
Island. Iran's offensive into the Hoveyzeh marshes, which
was thwarted by the Iraqis after several days of fighting,
turned into a rout, with the Iranians suffering heavy
losses in lives and prisoners. After the outcome became
evident, Iraqi media hastened to portray the battles as
"decisive" and heralding an opportunity to end the war.
2. Sudanese media announced the crushing of a new
anti-government plot said to have been inspired by the
Muslim Brotherhood. The plot, together with announced
cuts in subsidies on basic commodities and further unrest
in the south, helped to spark major demonstrations in
Khartoum that ultimately led to President Numayri's over-
throw by the Army chief of staff. Ironically, Numayri had
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MJN 8508
named General 'Abd al-Rahman Siwar al-Dhahab to his post
only three weeks earlier.
3. There were several terrorist attacks on Jordanian
Embassies and Alia offices in Europe, as well as an attempted
rocketing of an Alia plane which had just taken off from
Athens airport., The Black September organization, which
is said to have close links to Syria, claimed credit for
some of the incidents.
4. The long-awaited formation of an alternative to
the Palestinian mainstream PLO took place as Syrian media
reported at length of the new Palestine National Salvation
Front. Initial pronouncements by the Front indicate that
it will closely adhere to the Syrian view on Palestinian
issues.
B. Lateral Services
The massy o itical Section updated its list of
requirements for services via the ponyline circuit during
the month. Twelve services bearing more on the personal
interests of officers who have since been reassigned than
on real needs of the Embassy were eliminated from the list of
over 40 services. Because some of these requirements were
for the Embassy exclusively, the overall volume of traffic
received by the Bureau was slightly reduced by the changes.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
Commo Supervisor
17 March.
received a PSI effective ,/
B. Other
The or an Telecommunications Corporation announced
on 28 March that telephone numbers in some areas of Amman,
including that of the Embassy and Bureau, would change
effective later that morning. In the case of the Embassy/
Bureau, a "6" has been added as the first digit to the
existing number, making the new number for the Embassy
switchboard 644371.
IV. VISITS
Molly Williamson, Jordan desk officer, Dept. of State,
1 April, to express appreciation for the bureau's support
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MJN 8508
for her work, which she has found most useful. Molly is
already well acquainted with Jordan Bureau as a result of
a 2-year assignment at Embassy Amman.
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