Jordan’s “King Hussein died on February 7, 1999. The next day he was buried with full honors and in the presence of many world leaders. …In a short meeting after the ceremony, the new king, Abdullah II, told the president [Bill Clinton] that he was going to continue his father’s policies, which included offering pardons on special state occasions such as his father’s funeral. …After less than five years in prison, [Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-] Zarqawi and [his mentor, Mohammed al-]Maqdisi were both pardoned for their crimes.”
– Bruce Riedel, The Search for Al Qaeda, Page 94