Rather than blame IS for the protracted hostage crisis, the public at large and members of the pilot’s family have turned on the government. They are hitting the streets and faulting Amman for putting Jordanians into harm’s way in a war they say is not their own.
The finger-pointing has given rise to something even stronger: a full-throated antiwar movement.
Rallies in solidarity with Kassasbeh have quickly turned into anti-coalition protests, with participants denouncing the US and its allies as “cowards” who are “using Jordanian blood” to fuel their war against the Islamic State.
Protesters have even gone as far as challenging King Abdullah himself – rallying outside the gates of the Royal Palace and demanding “Abdullah, why are we fighting?” or resorting to more personal jabs such as “Abdullah II, where are you?”
The anti-coalition movement has also flourished online. Activists have gathered under an Arabic hashtag on Twitter that translates as #NotOurWar, organizing protests, calling on Jordanian authorities to withdraw from the war against IS, and detailing the civilian deaths caused by coalition bombing runs.
Except this didn't happen. Jordan, including the family of the pilot, is rallying around the king and demanding revenge on ISIS. the mother fucking king of Jordan is even personally conducting airstrikes against ISIS.
meanwhile, while a veteran US soldier is taken prisoner and killed by ISIS, Obama wags his finger at them and hopes the problem goes away.
