The King of Jordan reportedly referenced a Clint Eastwood movie in describing how his government would respond to the recent atrocity committed by the Islamic State against fighter pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh, in which the Jordanian 1st Lieutenant was placed in a cage and abruptly set on fire.
“The only problem we’re going to have is running out of fuel and bullets,” Jordanian King Abdullah reportedly said in channeling the film Unforgiven.
A Jordanian government spokesman said in response to the brutal killing that the “evil” of ISIS “can and should be defeated,” and that Jordan is “more determined than ever” to destroy the terrorist organization.
The father of the deceased Jordanian pilot said that his country’s government must “eradicate this criminal organization.” His statement came shortly after Jordan executed Al Qaeda-linked terrorists Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad Karbouli at dawn Wednesday.
“I ask that this should not end with Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad Karbouli,” Safi al-Kasasbeh, the fighter pilot’s father, told Al Arabiya news. “I expect the government to seek revenge, severe revenge for the blood of (Muath) against this horrid organization, this criminal organization, that is far from Islam and the spirit of Islam.”
He added: “The pain is deep. My son isn’t just the son of Safi… He is the son of every Jordanian. Grief is now in the hearts of every Jordanian mother and every Jordanian father.”
The United States is set to boost foreign aid to Jordan to $1 billion dollars per year, up from its usual aid disbursement of $660 million. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the aid increase will come into effect immediately, and will last until at least 2017. The State Department said, “The United States recognizes Jordan’s increased immediate needs resulting from regional unrest, the efforts Jordan is undertaking at the forefront of the fight against ISIL… The increase for the period of FY 2015 to FY 2017 is designed to address Jordan’s short-term, extraordinary needs.”