In the wake of reports of the resignation of the Jordanian Government, the State Department announced today an arms airlift to Jordan as an emergency measure to bolster King Hussein.
The State Department said that at the request of Jordan, the United States Government had agreed to “provide under its existing military assistance program, certain items of military equipment to strengthen the defensive capability of the Jordanian armed forces.”
The announcement said also that “this additional equipment is being provided as a means of enabling Jordan to assure its security, and thus to contribute further to the stability of the area. A substantial portion of this equipment will be airlifted to Jordan over the next 30 to 60 days. In addition, to these deliveries, some of the F-104 interceptor aircraft, previously purchased by Jordan, will be expedited.”
U.S. officials made clear that the decision was made in response to charges from other Arab countries which were made against the Hussein regime, after the November 13 raid by Israel, that Jordan had been unwilling or unable to cope with Israel.
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