Support building in Washington to help Jordan address mounting challenges

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah arrived home Wednesday after cutting short a visit to the US, where he met President Barack Obama, senior officials and lawmakers, according to the Royal Court.

At the meeting with Obama Tuesday, the president expressed his condolences to King Abdullah and the Jordanian people, stressing his and the American people’s solidarity with the Jordanian leadership and people over the loss of pilot Muath Kasasbeh, who was killed by the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State (IS). 

Obama said the brutality, and barbaric and criminal acts “will only serve to steel the international community’s resolve to destroy ISIL”. 

HRH Crown Prince Hussein and the King’s accompanying delegation attended the meeting. 

In two separate meetings, the King met with Vice President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State John Kerry where they discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, especially the international efforts exerted to combat terrorism and radicalism, and means to support Jordan economically and through development projects.  

In Washington, the King met with several new Congress committee members with whom he discussed cooperation in political, economic and military areas, besides exchanging views regarding current regional and international issues, foremost of which are the efforts to combat terrorist groups and their radical ideologies.  

The King met separately with members of the US Senate committees on foreign affairs, appropriations and military services as well as members of the military services committee of the US House of Representatives.  

US congressmen expressed their support for the King’s effort and of the courage and professionalism of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army in combating terrorism and radicalism, stressing their continued support for Jordan to boost its military capabilities in the war against terrorist groups and their radical ideologies, besides continued support to the economy to deal with different challenges, including the burdens borne by the country as a result of hosting Syrian refugees. 

On the sidelines of the King’s working visit to the US, the governments of Jordan and the US signed a memorandum of understanding, under which the US will present $3 billion in assistance to Jordan over three years, starting 2015. 

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that support is building in Congress for increased US military assistance to Jordan in the wake of the murder of Kasasbeh by his captors.

The agency quoted Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin as saying Wednesday that King Abdullah must be given “all of the military equipment” he needs to combat the IS group.

“It was just absolutely painful to talk” to the King about the death of the Jordanian air force pilot, said Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine.

Manchin said the Jordanians are willing to fight, saying he expects “very quick movement” from the Armed Services Committee on getting them the equipment they need.

Manchin said the King did not ask for ground troops in his talks with lawmakers.

Kaine said that King Abdullah told lawmakers this is primarily a regional “jihad” problem and said His Majesty told them that “we have to defeat this within our own region because it’s our position”.