Dairat al-Mukhabarat al-Ammah
Encyclopedia
Dairat al-Mukhabarat al-Ammah (Arabic
: ) (translated: General Intelligence Directorate, or GID) is the intelligence agency
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and a branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces
. The GID is reportedly one of the most important intelligence agencies in the Middle East
, and is considered one of the most professional in the Arab world
.
GID was established in accordance with the Act 24 for the year 1964 which went through all its constitutional stages.
GID Director is appointed by a Royal Decree, based on a decision made by the Counsel of Ministers. On January 2, 2008, King Abdullah II
replaced director Muhammad Dahabi (brother of Nader Dahabi) with Gen. Muhammad Raqqad, the former GID director. Officers are also appointed by a Royal Decree upon the recommendation of the Director General, they all have university degrees in different majors and must go through security check before joining the service.
The law specified and duties of GID constitute in protecting internal and external security of the Kingdom through carrying out necessary intelligence operations, and executing duties assigned by the Prime Minister in writing.
In practice, the agency is notoriously known for its extensive activity in Jordan and throughout the Middle East, as well as its cooperation with American, British, and Israeli intelligence. Through a complex spying system, it plays a central role in preserving stability in Jordan and monitoring seditious activity. The GID is believed to be the CIA's closest partner after the MI6. The GID enjoys good relations with the Mossad
, Israel's intelligence agency, but relations temporarily soured in 1997 after a Mossad attempt to assassinate Hamas
leader Khaled Mashaal in Amman
.
, thwarting numerous terrorist plots. Even before 9/11, the Jordanians had become key partners in the war on terror. In 1999, tips from the Mukhabarat alerted the CIA to plots by Bosnia-based terrorists against U.S. targets in Europe.
At the dawn of the new millennium, Jordanian Intelligence uncovered a large scale terrorist attack, known as the 2000 Millennium Terrorist attacks
, that would have attacked dozens of hotels across Jordan
and the United States
. Jordan immediately relayed the information to Washington and the attacks were thwarted in both countries. The GID warned the United States of the impending 9/11 attacks. In late summer 2001, Jordanian intelligence intercepted a message implying that a major attack was being planned inside the US and that aircraft would be used. The message also revealed that the operation was codenamed "Big Wedding", which indeed turned out to be the codename of the 9/11 plot. The message was passed to US intelligence through several channels.
As many as 100 al Qaeda prisoners have passed through the Mokhabarat's Al Jafr prison in the southern desert. Among them are some of the biggest catches in the war on terror: Al Qaeda operations head Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Persian Gulf chief Abd al-Rahim al Nashiri. The reliance of US intelligence on its Jordanian counterpart was forged in part by both countries’ aversion to Islamic radicalism. Their collaboration is believed to have helped quell the Al-Qaeda
insurgency in Iraq
and eliminate terrorist masterminds such as Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
The first director of the GID is General Muhammad Suheimat
in 1952 and the current director is Maj.General Faisal Al Shoubaki.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: ) (translated: General Intelligence Directorate, or GID) is the intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and a branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces
Jordanian Armed Forces
The Jordanian Armed Forces , also referred to as The Arab Army , with all of it branches, is under direct control of the King of Jordan...
. The GID is reportedly one of the most important intelligence agencies in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and is considered one of the most professional in the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
.
Law and Establishment
Before establishing GID , the department was known as The General Investigation department Arabic:(دائرة المباحث العامة),between 1952 - 1964.GID was established in accordance with the Act 24 for the year 1964 which went through all its constitutional stages.
GID Director is appointed by a Royal Decree, based on a decision made by the Counsel of Ministers. On January 2, 2008, King Abdullah II
Abdullah II of Jordan
Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein is the reigning King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He ascended the throne on 7 February 1999 after the death of his father King Hussein. King Abdullah, whose mother is Princess Muna al-Hussein, is a member of the Hashemite family...
replaced director Muhammad Dahabi (brother of Nader Dahabi) with Gen. Muhammad Raqqad, the former GID director. Officers are also appointed by a Royal Decree upon the recommendation of the Director General, they all have university degrees in different majors and must go through security check before joining the service.
The law specified and duties of GID constitute in protecting internal and external security of the Kingdom through carrying out necessary intelligence operations, and executing duties assigned by the Prime Minister in writing.
Mission
As quoted from the official GID Site, their mission isIn practice, the agency is notoriously known for its extensive activity in Jordan and throughout the Middle East, as well as its cooperation with American, British, and Israeli intelligence. Through a complex spying system, it plays a central role in preserving stability in Jordan and monitoring seditious activity. The GID is believed to be the CIA's closest partner after the MI6. The GID enjoys good relations with the Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
, Israel's intelligence agency, but relations temporarily soured in 1997 after a Mossad attempt to assassinate Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
leader Khaled Mashaal in Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
.
History
The GID was the main force behind maintaining Jordan's stability in the years after Black SeptemberBlack September in Jordan
September 1970 is known as the Black September in Arab history and sometimes is referred to as the "era of regrettable events." It was a month when Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan moved to quash the militancy of Palestinian organizations and restore his monarchy's rule over the country. The...
, thwarting numerous terrorist plots. Even before 9/11, the Jordanians had become key partners in the war on terror. In 1999, tips from the Mukhabarat alerted the CIA to plots by Bosnia-based terrorists against U.S. targets in Europe.
At the dawn of the new millennium, Jordanian Intelligence uncovered a large scale terrorist attack, known as the 2000 Millennium Terrorist attacks
2000 millennium attack plots
The Year 2000 attack plots were terrorist attacks planned to occur on or near January 1, 2000: the bombing of four sites in Jordan, the bombing of Los Angeles International Airport , and the bombing of the USS The Sullivans. The first two plots were foiled by law enforcement agencies; the third was...
, that would have attacked dozens of hotels across Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Jordan immediately relayed the information to Washington and the attacks were thwarted in both countries. The GID warned the United States of the impending 9/11 attacks. In late summer 2001, Jordanian intelligence intercepted a message implying that a major attack was being planned inside the US and that aircraft would be used. The message also revealed that the operation was codenamed "Big Wedding", which indeed turned out to be the codename of the 9/11 plot. The message was passed to US intelligence through several channels.
As many as 100 al Qaeda prisoners have passed through the Mokhabarat's Al Jafr prison in the southern desert. Among them are some of the biggest catches in the war on terror: Al Qaeda operations head Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Persian Gulf chief Abd al-Rahim al Nashiri. The reliance of US intelligence on its Jordanian counterpart was forged in part by both countries’ aversion to Islamic radicalism. Their collaboration is believed to have helped quell the Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
insurgency in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and eliminate terrorist masterminds such as Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
The first director of the GID is General Muhammad Suheimat
General Muhammad Suheimat
General Muhammad Suheimat or Muhammad Pasha Suheimat was a Jordanian military General and a statesman. He was born in the city of Al Karak in 1916, the son of Sheikh Attallah Suheimat,a national leader, who was a member of the first Legislative Council of the Emirate of Transjordan and held...
in 1952 and the current director is Maj.General Faisal Al Shoubaki.
Emblem
- The Crown: The Hashemite Royal Crown represents the Constitutional Monarchy.
- The Olive Wreath: Two branches of olive symbolizes prosperity, welfare and peace.
- The Shield: An Arabic Islamic shield carved on it twenty five Arabian gates marking independence day, May 25, it also symbolizes defending the security of the nation and safeness of the Home Land.
- The Eagle: One of the country's powerful birds, symbolizes power, invulnerability and having control over the target .
- The Snake: Symbolizes the invisible enemy either internal or external.
- The Two Swords: Two Arabian Swords crisscrossing behind the shield, symbolizing the use of power against terrorism, evil and corruption.
- The Ribbon: A ribbon written on it the holy verses "say the truth has prevailed," which represents the truth, seek to implement it and fight the untrue. It also represents the base that the two swords and the two olive branches are settling on.
- The Two Lightnings:The two lightning bolts represent the name of one of their special forces. The two lightning bolts also symbolize the swiftness and accuracy of the General Intelligence Directorate
External links
- GID.gov.jo - The official website of the GID