Friday, February 6, 2015

Everyone Keeps Asking "When Will Muslims Stand Up To ISIS?" Well, Guess What? In Jordan, They Just Did


In late August of last year, the gruesome execution of American journalist James Foley by ISIS shocked the world. It wasn't just that Foley was beheaded, it was the fact that it was on camera, finely produced, thrown in our faces in spectacular fashion. It terrorized us in a way we never thought possible, instilling a sense of visceral, gut-wrenching fear not felt since 9/11.

At the time, it was hard to imagine that ISIS could exceed the level of evil and barbarity displayed in the Foley video. But nearly six months later, they have.

This time, the victim was not a journalist or an American. It was a 27-year-old Jordanian fighter pilot named Moath al-Kasasbeh, who was captured by ISIS in late December when his plane crashed in Syria.

ISIS didn't behead him. Instead, they drenched him in gasoline and burned him alive in a cage.

The reaction to al-Kasabeh's murder in Jordan has been severe. King Abdullah has vowed a "earth-shaking" response. There are demonstrations all across the country. Jordanians are marching in the streets, burning pictures of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. They are demanding justice and revenge.

For all those who have been calling on Muslims to denounce radical Islam and stand up to ISIS, guess what? Jordan just did.


A MOVE THAT WILL BACKFIRE

The decision to execute al-Kasasbeh in such brutal fashion was a calculated one by ISIS.

First off, it terrorizes civilians under its control into obeying its rules, a twisted Machiavellian-type move intended to consolidate power through fear. It also serves as compelling propaganda to recruit thousands of new, inspired jihadists into its ranks.

However, aside from the immediate, short-term victories that the execution provides ISIS, it's looking more and more like it will backfire on them long term.

For years, a growing narrative has emerged that there is a civil war going on in the Muslim world, with a vast majority of peaceful moderates battling a sadistic few that pervert the religion of Islam.

Political pundits and cable news hosts have demanded time and time again that moderate Muslims stand up to the extremists and reclaim their religion.

In many ways, the request is absurd because it places an undo burden on the vast majority of Muslims who do nothing wrong. After all, no one asks Christians to denounce the KKK or neo-Nazis.

Nevertheless, there is a kernel of truth to the argument.

But now that argument is over.

The death of al-Kasasbeh has awoken Jordan. There is no more standing on the sidelines.

Before, it was Western hostages being executed by ISIS, drawing them into the fight. But now ISIS has executed a fellow Muslim, one of their own: a revered lieutenant from a predominant Jordan tribe who prayed 5 times a day and carried a Quran in his pocket.

In the streets, the people of Jordan are standing up to ISIS. They are denouncing them left and right, performing a joint, public excommunication of ISIS from Islam.

The Jordanian Air Force is literally writing "you are not Muslim" in chalk on bombs bound for ISIS targets.


A Jordanian pilot hammered the point home with a sign that read "Do not think Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do."



WINNING THE WAR OVER IDEOLOGY

In recent weeks and months, the mainstream Western media has claimed that ISIS is on the run and getting desperate. They are being pounded by coalition airstrikes, losing thousands of fighters and pieces of military equipment each month. In addition, ISIS just lost the the battle of Kobane, a city they spent nearly five months trying to topple.

However, despite more than 1000 airstrikes, ISIS is actually gaining territory in Syria. And while it's true they are losing thousands of fighters in battle, they are recruiting thousands of new foreign fighters each month to replace them.

Which makes Jordan's decision to take on ISIS so important.

It's the first loud, proud, unabashed example of a powerful Muslim country standing up to ISIS and denouncing them in 100% unison as "un-Islamic."

It's the first clear, dramatic example of a Muslim country taking on ISIS to re-claim Islam.

It may not change the calculus on the ground. But it's a ray of hope in an otherwise dark sea of despair.

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