Best-Ever Nixon Document

“Jordan” refers to events following King Hussein’s military assault in 1970 against Palestinian forces then situated inside Jordan. Syria responded by sending tanks to Jordan. This in turn prompted the U.S. to move aircraft carriers and other ships to the area. Nixon privately assured Israel that if Egypt and/or the Soviet Union were to join the threatened Syrian incursion, then the United States would commit troops to support Israel and Jordan. The threat of a Cold War confrontation was mooted when Jordanian troops halted the Syrian incursion.