Jordan Furious Over Pentagon Leak Of Secret Anti-Islamic State Training Base

Jordan's King Abdullah (C) speaks with U.S. Major General Ken Tovo, commanding general of the Special Operations Command Central, (2nd L) during "Eager Lion" exercises at the Jordan-Saudi Arabia border, south of Amman, May 24, 2012. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Sputnik: Top Secret? Jordan Furious After Pentagon Reveals Anti-ISIL Training Site

The Pentagon has altered records to try and cover up its disclosure that one of its training camps to battle Islamic State militants is located in Jordan – information Jordan had requested be kept private.

The slip happened last week as a Pentagon officer briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. In an effort to hide the screw-up, the Pentagon has since redacted any mention of the training camp from its public records, the Washington Times reported.

The Pentagon typically only discusses aid partner nations provide to its operations against Islamic State militants only after those partner nations have publicly spoken about those contributions.

Update #1: Pentagon Leaks Location of Secret Anti-Terror Training Camp -- FOX News/Washington Times
Update #2: The Pentagon Slips Up, Revealing the Existence of Secret Training Camp in Jordan to Fight ISIS -- IJReview

WNU Editor: There was a time when the Pentagon was very good at keeping secrets and respecting what it's allies want.

U.S. Military Presence In Jordan Raising Concerns In The Middle East

The coastal city of Aqaba was the site of military exercises are said to be designed to promote military relationships and face terrorism

Assad-Busters: At A Secret Base In Jordan, U.S Special Forces Are Training Syrian Rebels For War...But Loads Fear Sleeper Cells In Their Nation Will Wreak A Terrible Revenge -- Daily Mail

* 8,000 military personnel are behind Operation Eager Lion training exercise
* Arms from the West would have to travel through Jordan to get to Syria
* It is believed this could enrage Assad, who may well seek revenge
* Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour insists that US forces are not preparing for a war in Syria

Flying low over the Jordanian desert, F-16 fighter jets flatten targets in the sand while tanks unleash their deadly firepower and paratroopers dot the late afternoon sky.

These were the scenes a fortnight ago in Operation Eager Lion, the United States-led exercise involving 8,000 service personnel that the military insists was only routine.

In Jordan, though, the war games now feel like a precursor to the invasion of neighbouring Syria. And not just because live rounds were fired.

Read more ....

Update: Jordanians 'suspicious' about US military deployment -- AFP

My Comment: These concerns are justified. Jordan's location makes it a natural conduit for any arms shipments to Syria's rebels.

U.S. To Leave 700 Soldiers, F-16s, And Patriot Missiles In Jordan

U.S. To Leave 700 Troops In Jordan In Sign Of Deepening Involvement In Syrian Crisis -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — In a sign of deepening U.S. involvement in the Syrian crisis, the United States is leaving 700 combat-equipped American military personnel in Jordan following the end of a joint U.S.-Jordanian training exercise, President Barack Obama told Congress Friday.

The decision brings to about 1,000 the number of U.S. troops now deployed in Jordan. It came a week after the White House announced that the United States would begin providing light arms to Syrian rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Obama said the troops would remain in Jordan to help provide that country with security, but he did not say specifically what they would be doing.

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More News On The U.S. Leaving 700 Troops In Jordan

U.S. leaves about 700 combat-ready troops in Jordan after exercise -- Reuters
U.S. Leaving 700 Troops in Jordan After Military Exercises -- Bloomberg Businessweek
US-Jordan Military Exercises Likely Are Linked to Syria -- Tamer Samadi, Al-Monitor
U.S. increasing military forces in Jordan -- CNN
US Boosts Military Presence in Jordan after Exercises -- RIA Novosti
Obama: 'U.S. Forces Recently Deployed to Jordan' -- Weekly Standard

Update: US military presence in Jordan expands to 1,000 troops -- France24/AFP

U.S. Missiles And Jets To Be Deployed To Jordan

US To Deploy Missiles And Jets To Jordan -- Al Jazeera

Washington says weapons may remain there after exercise to help Amman deal with threat from conflict in Syria.

The United States will send a Patriot missile battery and F-16 fighters to Jordan for a military drill and may keep the weapons there to counter the threat posed by Syria's civil war, officials said.

The anti-missile systems and jets were approved for deployment to Jordan as part of a joint exercise with Jordanian forces, US Central Command said in a statement on Monday.

"In order to enhance the defensive posture and capacity of Jordan, some of these assets may remain beyond the exercise at the request of the government of Jordan," the statement said.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Missiles And Jets To Be Deployed To Jordan

US military to boost Jordan defences amid Syria unrest -- France 24/AFP
U.S. to send Patriot missile battery, fighter jets to Jordan as part of exercise -- CNN
U.S. to send Patriot missiles, F-16s to Jordan -- UPI
US to deploy Patriot missile battery in Jordan -- Times of Israel
US sending Patriot missiles, F-16 fighter jets to Jordan -- Al Bawaba
Syria conflict: US may leave F-16s and missiles in Jordan -- BBC
U.S. missile defense system to remain in Jordan after training exercise there -- Washington Post
US missile defense system may remain on Jordan-Syria border after drills -- RT

My Comment: What caught my eye in all of the reports of U.S. misiles and jets being deployed to Jordan was this report .... US Sending Military Planners To Jordan For Possible Chemical Weapons Crisis .... I guess there is a rising expectation in the White House that the situation in Syria is going to get worse.

U.S. To Send 200 Soldiers To Syria

U.S. Military To Step Up Presence In Jordan In Light Of Syria Civil War -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- In a critical indication of growing U.S. military involvement in the civil war in Syria, CNN has learned Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is ordering the deployment of up to 200 troops to Jordan, according to two Defense Department officials.

The troops, which will come from the headquarters of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas, "creates an additional capability" beyond what has been there, one official said.

The group will give the United States the ability to "potentially form a joint task force for military operations, if ordered," he said.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Troops being Sent To Syria

Pentagon sending additional troops to Jordan -- Washington Post
More U.S. Troops Head to Jordan to Help Contain Syria, Hagel Says -- US News and World Report
Hagel: US sending Army soldiers to Jordan -- FOX News/AP
US sending troops to Jordan as Assad issues warning -- ABC News (Australia)
Hagel: U.S. sending Army planners to Jordan -- AJC
Jordan says U.S. to send 200 troops there due Syria crisis -- Reuters
US to send 200 troops over Syria: Jordan -- The Australian

My Comment: If I was a betting man, I would bet that these soldiers are being placed to plan for a post-Assad Syria intervention.

U.S. Forces In Jordan Near The Syrian Border

Syrian refugee children play at the al-Zaatri refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria. (Reuters)

US Troops Operating In Jordan Near Syria Border -- The Telegraph

US troops are operating in Jordan near the Syrian border in the biggest fixed deployment of American force in the region since the end of operations in Libya last year, officials have confirmed.

The 150 troops are intended in the first instance to help Jordan, a key but fragile US ally, deal with the influx of refugees from the fighting across the northern border. They are also preparing for any action that might be needed to secure Syria's chemical weapons in the event of the Assad regime losing control of them.

But officials also told The New York Times that the possibility of a buffer zone in southern Syria, enforced by Jordanian troops with American logistical support, had also been discussed. Jordan as well as its neighbours is deeply concerned at the threat of the Syrian war spilling over its borders.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Forces Operating In Jordan Near Syria Border

U.S. Military Is Sent to Jordan to Help With Crisis in Syria -- New York Times
Official: US has small military team in Jordan to help with Syria crisis -- Washington Post/AP
The US Is Sending A Military Task Force Into Jordan -- Business Insider/AFP
Report: U.S. task force aiding Jordan to prepare for Syria crisis fallout -- Haaretz/AP
U.S. helping Jordan on Syrian crisis -- UPI
US military team in Jordan to help with Syria crisis -- Al-Monitor
U.S. quietly sends task force to Jordan to aid in Syria crisis -- Government Executive/National Journal
Panetta: US sends military personnel to Jordan in case of Syrian escalation -- Washington Post/AP
U.S. Sent Forces to Jordan on Risk of Syrian War Spillover -- Bloomberg
Syria in the firing line? US deploys covert mission to Jordan -- RT

Top US Military Official Visits Jordan, Israel To Reassure Them Of Continuing American Support

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses audience members at the U.S. Strategic Command change-of-command ceremony on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 28, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Top US Military Official Visits Jordan, Israel -- Voice of America

The top U.S. military officer will be in Jordan and Israel beginning Sunday to reassure the key allies of U.S. support following the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen is scheduled to go to Amman to meet with his military counterpart and King Abdullah.

Read more ....

Update #1: US commander visiting Israel -- Al Jazeera
Update #2: King receives U.S Army Chief -- Jordan Directions

My Comment: There are a lot of nervous U.S. allies in the region, and Mullen is there to reassure them.