Is the US Signaling?
The US-Jordanian exercise will exercise an attack scenario involving
chemical weapons
Arie Egozi 9/5/2012
http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=1231

More than 10,000 soldiers from the US and Jordan will take part in a large
military exercise slated to start today in Jordan.

The US and Jordan are attempting to sever any connection between the
exercise and recent developments in Arab countries in the region, but it is
difficult not to make a connection.

Representatives from additional countries will also take part in the
exercise, known as Eager Lion 12. However, it is primarily intended to
increase the cooperation between the US and Jordanian armies.

The US army's announcement stated, among other things, that the exercise is
intended for handling terrorism, which clearly points to one of its central
goals.

The exercise will take place for approximately three weeks, and will include
various air, sea, and ground scenarios. Some of the forces will be deployed
near the Israeli-Jordanian border in the area of Aqaba in the framework of
the exercise and live fire will be used for parts of it as well.

Special teams will train for what is being referred to as "handling a
large-scale chemical leak event." According to Israeli sources, a scenario
in which chemical weapons are used by countries such as Iran in a future
regional conflict are being concealed under this definition.

Jordan is a recipient of US military assistance, and it has received such
assistance in a total scope of $2.4 billion over the past five years. Israel
is assessing that the timing of the exercise is not coincidental, and that
it is intended to signal to radical regional elements that the US has an
interest in preserving the stability of the Jordanian government.