Few would disagree with the sentiments expressed by Princess Aisha bint Al Hussein, sister of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who was in our area recently to speak at a national security symposium. She told those gathered for the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation symposium on St. Pete Beach that the onus for combating ISIS was directly on the Muslim community.
“Unfortunately, you can’t help us with that,” she said. “It’s our responsibility.”
Indeed, and it’s much more than “speaking out,” as critically important as that is. We know the issue of “boots on the ground” is a controversial and divisive issue in this country. But the standing armies–notably Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and, for what it’s worth, Iraq–of neighboring Muslim countries with existential vested interests far outnumber ISIS terrorists.