Jordan Country Handbook This Handbook Provides Basic Reference
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Jordan Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on Jordan, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to Jordan. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Jordan. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and government personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and designated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this docu ment, to include excerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 U.S. Embassy .............................................................. 2 U.S. Consulate ............................................................ 2 U.S. Military Facilities ............................................... 3 Travel Advisories ........................................................ 4 Entry Requirements .................................................... 5 Passport/Visa Requirements .................................. 5 Immunization Requirements .................................. 5 Customs Restrictions ............................................. 6 Cash Exchange ....................................................... 6 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 7 Geography ................................................................... 7 Land Statistics ....................................................... 7 Boundaries ............................................................ 7 Bodies of Water ...................................................... 8 Topography ............................................................ 10 Cross-country Movement ...................................... 15 Urban Geography ................................................... 16 Environment ........................................................... 17 Climate ........................................................................ 18 Phenomena ............................................................ 21 Infrastructure ..................................................... 21 Transportation ............................................................. 21 Roads ..................................................................... 23 Rail ......................................................................... 27 Air .......................................................................... 28 Maritime ................................................................ 30 iii Contents (Continued) Communication ........................................................... 31 Radio and Television .............................................. 32 Telecommunication ................................................ 35 Internet ................................................................... 37 Newspapers and Magazines ................................... 38 Postal Service ......................................................... 39 Satellites ................................................................. 39 CULTURE ....................................................................... 40 Statistics ..................................................................... 40 Population Patterns ................................................ 40 Ethnic Density ....................................................... 43 Society ....................................................................... 43 People ................................................................... 45 Ethnic Groups ........................................................ 46 Family ................................................................... 47 Roles of Men and Women ..................................... 48 Education and Literacy .............................................. 50 Language ..................................................................... 53 Religion ...................................................................... 53 Recreation .................................................................. 55 Cultural Considerations .............................................. 58 Gestures ................................................................. 58 Greetings ................................................................ 58 Dress ...................................................................... 59 Etiquette ................................................................ 60 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 62 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 62 Medical Capabilities ................................................... 64 Key Medical Facilities ........................................... 66 iv Contents (Continued) HISTORY ......................................................................... 67 Early History ............................................................... 67 Recent History ............................................................ 75 Chronology ................................................................ 76 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 77 Government ................................................................. 77 National Level ........................................................ 79 Local Level ............................................................ 82 Key Government Officials .................................... 84 Politics ........................................................................ 84 Political Parties ..................................................... 85 Foreign Relations .................................................. 86 International Organizations ................................... 91 Non-governmental Organizations .......................... 91 Corruption .............................................................. 91 ECONOMY ..................................................................... 92 Economic Aid ............................................................. 92 Banking Services ....................................................... 93 Economic Statistics .................................................... 94 Resources ................................................................... 95 Industry .................................................................. 97 Agriculture ............................................................ 99 Utilities ................................................................. 100 Foreign Investment ................................................ 105 Outlook .................................................................. 106 THREAT .......................................................................... 106 Crime ......................................................................... 106 Drug Trafficking ........................................................ 107 Major Intelligence Services ....................................... 108 v Contents (Continued) ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 109 Army ........................................................................... 109 Mission .................................................................. 109 Organization ........................................................... 110 Disposition ............................................................. 111 Jordan Special Operations Command .................... 113 Training .................................................................. 115 Doctrine ................................................................. 118 Equipment .............................................................. 118 Air Force ..................................................................... 121 Mission .................................................................. 121 Organization ........................................................... 122 Training .................................................................. 123 Equipment ............................................................. 123 Navy ............................................................................ 125 Organization ........................................................... 125 Training .................................................................. 125 Equipment .............................................................. 125 Coastal Defense .......................................................... 125 Paramilitary Forces ..................................................... 126 People’s Army ........................................................ 126 National Police ............................................................ 126 Public Security Directorate .................................... 126 APPENDICES