Jordanians shaken by Islamic State killing, as gov’t executes 2 prisoners

World Today

A day after ISIL distributed a video showing Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh’s brutal killing; Jordan’s people are trying to come to terms with the brutality. While many condone the government’s subsequent hanging executions of two ISIL-affiliated extremists, others said an eye-for-an-eye policy will only invite more violence. CCTV’s Stephanie Freid reported this story from Amman, Jordan.

Cafes and restaurants on the streets of Amman are virtually empty while people talk quietly of the horrific killing.

“That’s not really what Muslims do. Our prophet, what he did before with a prisoner – he would teach him, he would give him food, he would let them learn their style. But if that’s ISIS style – burning people in a cage. It really doesn’t make sense,” said one Jordanian resident named Adam who did not give a last name.

Hours after the release of the video showing al-Kasasbeh burned alive, the Jordanian government vowed to deliver an “earth shaking response” to ISIL. Jordan’s King Abdullah, on an official visit to Washington when the video was released, cut his trip short and returned home to a supportive welcome.

As Jordanians come to terms with the fact that the country’s “collective son” will never return home, they await the government and military’s next move.


World reacts to recent ISIL killings, question coalition strategy

World leaders are showing support and solidarity for Jordan as renewed questions arise about how the international coalition can best defeat the terror group ISIL. CCTV America’s Nathan King reported this story from Washington D.C.

From the streets of Amman to Ramallah, from Tokyo to London, there is growing anger against ISIL and solidarity with Jordan following the brutal burning of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasseasbeh.

That show of unity was evident in Washington D.C. just before Jordan’s King Abdullah cut short his trip to the U.S., but not before he met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House.

Ashton Carter, the president’s nominee for defense secretary, is vowing to speed up the supply of more arms to Jordan. At his Senate confirmation hearing, Carter said the global coalition will fight any efforts by ISIL to expand its influence.

There are signs not everyone in the coalition is in lock-step. It was revealed the United Arab Emirates in Dec. 2014 suspended air attacks on ISIL targets in Syria. The UAE, a crucial Arab ally in the anti-ISIL coalition, wants stronger search-and-rescue protections in place.

In the United States, there are renewed questions about the overall strategy against the extremist group.

“We need to have a no-fly zone in Syria. We need to have a free Syrian army. We need to have more American boots on the ground,” U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said.

For now, Middle East experts believe ISIL’s brutality will serve as a wakeup call for the region.

“As a lot of countries are learning, you will not be able to ignore the problem and it won’t simply go away. It will keep coming. This is their creed. ‘We are here and we’re expanding.’ This is going to be a moment of hard self-questioning in Jordan,” author of “Undercover Jihadi” Mubin Shaikh said.


Jonah Blank of RAND Corp. discusses int’l reaction to Jordanian executions

CCTV America interviewed Jonah Blank of the RAND Corp about the international reaction to Jordanian executions in retaliation for the brutal murder of a Jordanian pilot held hostage by ISIL.