JORDAN BUREAU MONTHLY REPORT - AUGUST 1981

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00385R000200060009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: August 1, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Jordan Bureau Monthly Report - August 1981
A. As a member of the Country Team, the bureau chief was among
the delegation greeting newly appointed Ambassador Richard Viets at
the airport upon his arrival and attending his presentation of
credentials to King Husayn. The Ambassador's arrival engendered more
than the usual amount of chaos even for Jordan. First, as the
motorcade was preparing to leave the embassy, word was passed that
the plane would be an hour late, allowing all concerned to retire
to the American Club for refreshments. Then as foam mustaches were
beginning to appear around the bar, word came that the plane already
landed. This was followed by a mad scramble for the cars, with two
of the slower chugalugers being left behind, and a frantic dash for
the airport, where it was learned that the plane was still an hour
late. The chaos didn't end there. Rushing out of the Embassy the
next day to catch a car to the DCM's luncheon for the Ambassador,
the consul fell into a ditch being dug for a sewer main. Despite
breaking his glasses, tearing the knees out of his pants and suffer-
ing numerous cuts and bruises, he managed to climb out unaided and
showed up in time for dessert.
B. Before presenting his credentials, Ambassador Viets told
the Country Team that depending upon his reception by King Husayn,
he would either be sending back a 4-word or 400-word cable to Wash-
ington. It appeared that it would be a 4-word cable when the audience
lasted only a brief few minutes, but upon returning to the Embassy
residence, the Ambassador informed everyone that the King has invited
him back for a lengthy visit that afternoon, and relations have been
good between the two since.
C. The week after his arrival, -the Ambassador paid a 45-minute
visit to the Bureau, having become acquainted with FBIS during his
tour in Tel-Aviv. The Ambassador had nothing but praise for FBIS
and its product, stressing its importance and efficiency while
citing its low operating costs. He went on to state that if there
were any problems such as low starting salaries for monitors,
he would be glad to go to bat for the Bureau and FBIS with the
department.
The Ambassador' said that his only problem was that he was
not receiving our copy quickly enough, whereupon the Political officer
accompanying him acknowledged that it was his section's fault because
they were only picking up the copy once a day and then screening it
before passing it on. The officer said he would make arrangements to
have the copy collected throughout the day. The Bureau later proposed
that a printer be installed in the Political Section and a ponyline
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fed from the burg so that copy would be reafved within minutes.
The'Q~Ltbassador w delighted with the proposa and the Bureau Chief
and the head of the Political Section are now working out the details.
A. Jordan and Gulf bureaus eliminated a chronic source of
duplicate processing by transferring to Gulf on 22 August primary
coverage of GNA, QNA and ENA to complement Gulf Bureau's coverage
of the Gulf radios. Jordan Bureau is retaining coverage of the GNA
2030-2100 GMT transmission for processing of priority material.
B. The Bureau has formally assumed coverage of the hourly
newscasts of the Monacan commercial radio station Radio Monte Carlo.
The bureau had placed these casts on special coverage in the early
days of the Syrian missile crisis. Over time, it became clear that
this station, with its own staff of regional correspondents, pro-
vides reporting on Middle East developments that rivals the Western
news agencies both in speed and coverage.
C. A rash of rumors concerning Jordanian political and military
affairs appeared in the regional media during August. Among them
were reports of an attempted coup d'etat, subsequently denied by the
Prime Minister according to Monte Carlo Radio, and the Jordanian
downing of two Israeli aircraft. One surprise Jordanian announcement,
according to Embassy officers notified by FBIS, was the replacement
and resignation of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Majali.
D. Syrian television on 18 August telecast lengthy and rare
footage of Rif'at al-Asad, the Syrian president's brother and
commander of the Syrian defense squads, observing a women's airborne
exercise. A videorecording of the telecast was pouched to Headquart-
ers.
A. Monitorl and monitor trainee I Isub- STAT
mitted their intentions to resign effective the end o t e mon h.
returned from EOC leave 13 August. STAT
C. Bureau Chief I land children STAT
arrived from the States to loin him 14 Auqust.
IV. VISITS
Chief Analyst
V. OTHER
TDY 5-9 August
STAT
Senior Editor I lended his Amman athletic career by
winning in concert with his partner, a member of the military's
I-HAWK contingent, a two-day round-robin doubles tournament among
U.S. Embassy employees.
STAT
STAT
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