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Friday, May 14, 2010     GET REAL

Jordan center training special forces from Afghanistan, Iraq, Gulf states

AMMAN — Jordan has completed training of Afghanistan's special operations forces.

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Officials said the King Abdullah center, launched in May 2009, has also trained hundreds of officers from Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. They said other Middle East states, including from Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia, were also using the counter-insurgency facility.

Officials said Jordan's military has trained thousands of members of Afghanistan's SOF command. They said the training was instrumental in the deployment and operation of the force against Al Qaida and Taliban.

"Jordan has trained 2,500 members of the Afghan special forces," Jordanian Information Minister Nabil Sharif said.


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Officials said the training took place from 2005 through 2009. They said Afghan officers underwent training at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center, a $200 million facility financed by the United States.

"This was in the past," Sharif said. "The group has completed its training and there are no trainees now."

At a May 12 briefing, Sharif said NATO has requested that Jordan resume training of Afghan forces. The minister said the Western alliance sought Jordanian training of the Afghan police.

"The kingdom hasn't yet decided on NATO's request," Sharif said.

In May, Jordan hosted an international military competition attended by seven countries. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and the United States competed in such tactical skills as marksmanship, stamina, and teamwork. The U.S. Marine Corps won the Warrior competition, with Jordan's 71st Counter Terrorism Brigade taking second place.



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