Help needed to fight IS

The burning to death of Jordanian pilot Muath Kasasbeh by the so-called Islamic State (IS) is poised to become the turning point in the war against the extreme radical movement now well entrenched in Syria and Iraq.

The death of the pilot shocked the world and made the international community look for more effective ways to end IS’ presence in the Middle East for fear that it can spread to other parts of the world.

Driven by grief and anger, His Majesty King Abdullah has taken the fight against IS to new heights, ordering the air force to begin a relentless war against the movement.

The King’s leadership in the fight against IS won him admiration and support not only from Jordanians but also from the entire free world.

More and more people, in Jordan and elsewhere in the world, are rallying behind His Majesty, supporting his reaction to the IS savagery.

The King is showing the way in the fight against extremism and radicalism.

It took the horrifying image of the pilot burning to death in a cage  to make the world understand even better that the fight against IS must be unequivocal, total and relentless.

There is no more room for half measures or timid reactions. But Jordan is a small country with limited resources and already burdened by the inflow of more than 1 million Syrian refugees.

It is also a country heavily burdened by a huge debt, estimated to run into billions of dollars.

In order for it to continue the fight against IS on behalf of the international community, it needs urgent support.

Jordan’s war is the world’s war and it must not be left on its own.

IS will probably react to Jordan’s increased assertiveness in the war against it, one way or another. 

This is the time for the international community to rally behind the King and his people in the great fight against the enemies of the humanity.

Jordan needs to beef up its military forces. It also needs sizeable financial and economic support to create grassroots support for its endeavours if it wishes the war against IS to succeed.