Investigative journalism - Assignment Example

Jordan and Arab countries beginning to unite against ISIS Just when everybody thought that ISIS brutality could no longer get worst, the world was shocked, particularly Jordan with its new spate of brutality when it burned the captured Jordanian pilot alive. The Jordanian pilot was Moath al-Kasasbeh whose family was known to have close ties with the King of Jordan which could explain why the King himself led the airstrikes against ISIS as a retaliation (Mullen, 2015). ISIS had been using the Jordanian pilot as a bargaining chip to free a failed Jihadist Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi  who was arrested in 2005 for a failed suicide bomb attack (AFP, 2015).

While Jordan had shown willingness to trade Moath al-Kasasbeh with al-Rishawi, it asked for a proof of life suspecting that the pilot had long been killed. Jordanian intelligence reported that Moath al-Kasasbeh was already been killed as early January 3 of this year (Vinograd, 2015) and that ISIS is just using the pilot to gain media mileage that could enhance their propaganda warfare and have more recruits. Jordan’s retaliation was swift. It made good on its threat to execute its terrorist prisoners if Moath al-Kasasbeh will be killed.

When the news of Moath al-Kasasbeh death through burning broke out in the news, the King cut short his visit from the United States and hurriedly went back home to Jordan and had their terrorists prisoners executed the next day. Jordan also vowed to wipe out ISIS at the face of the planet and will wage war on its own backyard. True to its promise, Jordan led by its King Abdullah, conducted a series of bombing in ISIS stronghold and positions. At present, there are already more than 56 airstrikes conducted by Jordan and counting.

Other Arab countries are also joining the fight against crisis as United Arab Emirates had sent a squadron of its F-16 to join the bombing run against ISIS. United States cautioned that such attack must be coordinated with coalition forces for it to have more impact and effective and also to minimize the risk against coalition partners. While Jordan agrees, it is now also taking initiative on hitting ISIS targets. This development is relatively new in the fight against ISIS because for the first time, Arab countries in the Gulf are taking active participation in the fight particularly in the bombing run which was typically done by United States with only minor participation of Gulf Countries.

That number has now increased and with the momentum of current development, it looks like the number of Arab countries participation against ISIS will increase. This new development may probably make the campaign against ISIS successful. The campaign against ISIS had been more than a year already with little success. The terrorist group still seem undeterred and unchecked with its terroristic attack is still on the run. Probably this renewed campaign of Jordan with other Arab States such as UAE will finally end the scourge of ISIS once and for all.

Kobani was liberated from ISIS with the help of the locals, and this may prove also true for the whole of Middle East when Arab Nations unite to fight against ISIS. ReferencesAl-Khalidi, S. (2015, February 4). Jordanian king vows relentless war on Islamic States own ground. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/us-mideast-crisis-killing-idUSKBN0L71XE20150204Anxious wait as Jordan offers to exchange jihadist for pilot. (2015, January 28). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.

uk/wires/afp/article-2929808/Jordan-offers-free-militant-exchange-pilot-held-IS.htmlPark, L., & Martinez, M. (2015, February 4). Who was Jordanian pilot Moath al-Kasasbeh, killed by ISIS? - CNN.com. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/29/middleeast/who-is-jordan-pilot-isis-hostage/Vinograd, C. (n.d.). When Did Jordan Find Out Hostage Pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh Was Dead? Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/when-did-jordan-find-out-hostage-pilot-muath-al-kasasbeh-n299896