WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has approved an increase
in U.S. military aid to Jordan, a major player in the killing of Al Qaida
network chief Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi.
The House approved a $21.3 billion foreign assistance spending bill that
slightly increased military and security aid for Jordan. The legislation,
passed on June 9 by a 373-34 vote, gave Jordan more money than requested by
the Bush administration, Middle East Newsline reported.
The kingdom was also said to have provided intelligence that located the
safe house of Al Zarqawi near Baqubah. Officials said Jordanian intelligence
helped infiltrate the Al Qaida command and track senior operatives to Al
Zarqawi.
Under the House vote, Jordan would receive $217 million in U.S. military
and security aid during fiscal 2007. The Hashemite kingdom would also obtain
$251 million in U.S. economic assistance.
The military assistance was $11 million more than requested by the
administration. In all, Jordan would receive $9 million above the current
level of U.S. aid.
Congressional staffers said the House leadership has sought to encourage
Jordan's military and security cooperation with the United States. Jordan
has been training thousands of Iraqi police officers and plans to host a
counter-insurgency facility designed to bolster the skills of U.S. and other
allied forces.
The House defeated a proposal to reduce aid to Egypt by $100 million. An
amendment submitted by Rep. David Obey, the ranking Democrat in the House
Appropriations Committee, was meant to have relayed the $100 million to
assist refugees in Sudan's Darfour province.
Under the approved House bill, Egypt would receive $1.8 billion,
including $1.3 billion in military aid. Israel would be allocated $2.5
billion; Sudan, $450 million; and the Palestinians $80 million in
humanitarian assistance.
But the House approved an amendment to the foreign aid bill that would
ban assistance to Saudi Arabia. The House voted 312-97 to block an
administration request to fund military training and education in the
Gulf kingdom. The measure does not affect U.S. military sales to Riyad.