How many US military troops are kept as a standing force in Jordan?
I'm not looking for the number of troops currently there, since the
number would undoubtably be larger than normal due to the recent war
in Iraq. I'm looking for the standing military presence over the last five
to ten years, or thereabouts.

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Request for Question Clarification by leli-ga on 03 Jun 2003 02:16 PDT

Hello cgpryor

Thanks for your interesting question.

So far, this is what I've found:

"I can assure you that except [for] the military staff in the embassy,
there are no American military personnel in Jordan," Mr. Egan said. "I
am not aware of any plans to station U.S. military personnel in
Jordan."

Jordan Times
Saturday, February 14, 1998
http://www.jordanembassyus.org/021498004.htm

If we could find confirmation that there have been no US troops there
until recently, would that be a satisfactory answer?

Thanks - Leli

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Clarification of Question by cgpryor-ga on 04 Jun 2003 16:37 PDT

Leli,

This is what I was looking for. Sounds good to me!

Thanks!

-CP

Hello again CP

Thanks for your message.

Although the US has sent military equipment to Jordan over the years,
and forces from the two countries have co-operated on exercises, it
seems that the idea of stationing US troops there was a political
impossibility until 2002-3.

As well as the quote I already offered you, these showed up in my
searches:

"The government should announce a clear and unquestionable position
that it will not [....] grant permission to U.S. troops to be
stationed in the Kingdom."

Jordan Times February 3, 1998
http://www.jordanembassyus.org/020398005.htm

A US government site describing military assistance to Jordan as
"provision of material and training"

Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs  January 2002
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3464.htm



In summer 2002 there were reports in some newspapers that US troops
had arrived in Jordan. These were denied by the Jordanians:

"The military on Monday opened the gates of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base to
journalists in an unprecedented reply to allegations that Jordan is
hosting US troops and will be used as a launchpad in an imminent US
attack on Iraq."

Jordan Times July 16, 2002
http://www.jordanembassyus.org/07162002004.htm

"Despite stringent denials by the Jordanian authorities that US forces
will be permitted to use their territory for future operations against
Baghdad, Western diplomats have told The Times that King Abdullah has
consented to a limited US presence involved in defensive and
humanitarian operations."

The Times (London) July 11, 2002 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-352917,00.html



Then in March 2003:

"In talks with President Bush, King Abdullah agreed to allow U.S.
military forces to be stationed here on condition their presence be
kept as secret as possible."

USA today  3/16/2003
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-16-iraq-border-usat_x.htm

I hope this helps. Please feel free to ask for clarification if any
links are troublesome, or if you have a further query about this.

Regards - Leli


This was the most effective search:
Jordan "US troops OR forces OR military" station OR stationed -2003
://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%0D%0AJordan+%22US+troops+OR+forces+OR+military%22+station+OR+stationed+-2003&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Thanks for the five stars!