Testing Jordan’s independence

The ISIS hostage crisis has raised many concerns about the degree of Jordan’s independence and power to make its own decisions, especially following the brutal killing of captured pilot Muath Al-Kasasbeh. His murder has created a national crisis, with citizens starting to question Jordan’s agency and ability to protect them. From the very moment that Kasasbeh was captured by the extremist group, many Jordanians began to discuss what possibilities and options lay ahead, while the government considered striking a deal for the pilot to be freed in exchange for Sajida Al-Rishawi, the Iraqi woman held part-responsible for blowing up a hotel in Amman in 2005.

Public pressure placed King Abdullah in a predicament, not least because the Jordanian people dared to ask what it would mean if America does not allow the kingdom to make deals with terrorist organisations on its own terms when it is the base for the international coalition fighting against ISIS. The people’s perspective of this war has surprised the monarchy; many view it as a twist of fate and, as such, the loss of military personnel and subsequent pain that for ordinary families are expected.

It must be borne in mind that public confidence in Jordan’s decision-makers continues to drop as many feel that the frequent pledges of political reforms and changes are nothing more than empty promises and a means to deceive the public, especially in the light of the instability in neighbouring countries. In addition, while many people agree that the war against ISIS is essential, they also believe that the decision to embark on the war was not made by Jordanians. Indeed, that it was an American decision agreed to by the Jordanian elite without a second thought about how the poor and the working class would pay the price.

While Kasasbeh comes from a large Jordanian tribe, his family is not among the elite and they jumped at the chance for their son to be employed within the armed forces. They did not have the privileges or opportunities like some other Jordanian families whose sons obtain plum government positions. Due to limited economic opportunities, they have now lost their son and his death confirmed to the rest of us that Jordan does not have any independent political will.

What the pro-war elite is ignoring completely is the fact that may of them have begun to compare Jordan’s position in the region to that of Israel. In a continuation of what can only be deemed as humiliating appeasement, the Jordanian ambassador to Tel Aviv confirmed that Jordan will continue to follow America’s lead in the region. There is also a sense among the people that the government in Amman has begun to take the loss of Jordanian life lightly. The death of Judge Raed Zuaiter on the Jordan-Israel border last year is a prime example of this nonchalance.

It is not surprising, therefore, that many people did not believe that a hostage exchange would solve the problems. Most felt that the discussions about exchanging Japanese journalist Kenji Foto for prisoners held by Jordan would do little apart from weaken economic relations with Japan. In fact, the discussions also did nothing to encourage ISIS to release the pilot.

According to the information that has been leaked in regards to this situation, the common belief is that the main priority in Jordanian decision-making circles is to appease America and its interests while Jordan continues to lose more and more. The death of Muath Al-Kasasbeh only confirms that the intention is to keep Jordan in a purely functional role in this war and to undermine its ability to make any independent decisions. The media will continue to capture the levels of public anger surrounding the young pilot’s death; however, the damage is already done because we know that Jordan has been stripped of its decision-making power, placing the monarchy and the government in a real dilemma.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.