Sen. Angus King, Maine Independent, said the burning execution of a Jordanian pilot by the Islamic State terrorist group could be a galvanizing moment for the region, and that the group’s behavior calls to mind Mongol leader Genghis Khan.
“These people are literally living in the eighth century,” Mr. King said Wednesday on CNN’s “New Day.” “I mean, this is Middle Ages — this is Genghis Khan kind of stuff, and I think they’ve overstepped.”
He pointed out that Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, the Jordanian pilot apparently burned alive by the Islamic State, was a Sunni Muslim. Jordan has vowed revenge and hanged at least two convicted terrorists in response.
“I think the rest of the Muslim world’s [going to] have to wake up and realize that these people are committing horrible crimes in their name and really perverting the name of the prophet and of Islam,” said Mr. King, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Mr. King said no war has ever been won by air power, and there are going to have to be troops on the ground and that if the troops are western, “that’s exactly what ISIS wants.”
“They want this to be a crusade — they want this to be the West against Islam and it’s got to come from the Muslim countries, and that’s why I think this could be a galvanizing moment,” he said.
Mr. King said there have been some bureaucratic problems with getting proper equipment to Jordanians and he thinks there could be legislation or work between the Congress and the administration on that to be sure those problems are worked out.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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