generalspeaking

Jordan's Islamic State Dilemma

"We have said before, and we continue to say, that this is our fight and we are in this together for the long haul and we are as committed as ever."
Nasser Judeh, Jordanian Foreign Minister

Jordan remains fixated on its efforts to secure the release of the Jordanian fighter pilot who had been captured when his plane went down in Islamic State territory. The plight of Lt.Muath al-Kaseasbeh, taken hostage by a viciously bloodthirsty group that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham have shown themselves to be, is one that staggers the imagination. And the man well knew what his life had become, from his facial expression in photos of his capture by ISIS jihadis.

Jubilant militants parade Kaseasbeh after his plane crashed in December -- Photo Credit AP

The offer to trade the al-Qaeda-linked, death-row inmate Sajida al-Rishawi in an exchange for Lt.. al-Kaseasbeh was repeated on Sunday. But although Islamic State demanded the release of the woman suicide bomber whose suicide belt failed, but whose husband's was instrumental in killing 60 people in an Amman hotel in 2005, they pointedly made no mention of releasing the pilot in exchange.


Logic would have it, that with the demand an exchange was meant to take place. But there is no logic to anything emanating from Islamic State, simply threats, ultimatums and gloating videos of beheadings. They appreciate nothing so much as horrifying civilized impressions of how human beings should relate to one another by parodying the elements of conflict while practising the finality of death by gruesome video propaganda.

One deadline after another passes, and one victim after another is summarily dispatched to death. The jihadis are dedicated to the shock value of spreading terror among those who flinch instinctively at tormenting human beings. But the value of those videos is reflected in their success through flaunting them in persuading would-be jihadis that their psychopathic tendencies can be practised unabated within ISIS militias.

It was Lt. al-Kaseasbeh's misfortune, at age 26 to crash his F-16 near Raqqa in December, falling into the exuberantly triumphant embrace of a death-cult that celebrates its capacity to instill fear and loathing near and abroad. The government statement that "we are still ready to hand over" al-Rishawi in return for the pilot appears to fall on disinterested ears; obviously ISIS no longer has anyone to trade with.

King Abdullah has called for "concerted international efforts against terrorism and extremism", a call to action that appears hugely unpopular among his citizens, many of whom appear to approve of the Islamic State agenda of conquest. Criticism of the government position has become increasingly vocal, led by the pilot's tribal family who deplore their government's decision to join the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS.

Jordan represents a primary base of air operations against the Islamic State. But recent events revolving around the fate of the Jordanian pilot may "make the kingdom more hesitant to put their troops in harm's way", according to David Schenker, analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

That, added to the reality that a situation exists whereby Jordan faces a threat from Islamist extremists both outside its borders and within, the situation is tricky beyond words for the government. A crackdown on ISIS sympathizers and the Syrian al-Qaeda branch last year led to 220 Jordanians being imprisoned because of their ties to those groups.

Thirty of those Jordanians are serving terms from three to five years. The remainder await trial on charges such as fighting in jihadi rebel ranks within Syria, of incitement and of recruiting, according to Marwan Shehadeh, an expert on militant groups.

Labels: Conflict, Islamic State, Jordan

posted by Pieface @ Monday, February 02, 2015