The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

American Journalist James Foley Beheaded by Islamic Terrorists

Posted on | August 20, 2014 | 100 Comments

The killers blame Barack Obama:

A video released by ISIS shows the beheading of U.S. journalist James Foley and threatens the life of another American if President Barack Obama doesn’t end military operations in Iraq.
In the video posted Tuesday on YouTube, Foley is seen kneeling next to a man dressed in black. Foley reads a message, presumably scripted by his captors, that his “real killer” is America.
“I wish I had more time. I wish I could have the hope for freedom to see my family once again,” he can be heard saying in the video.
‘The world’s most ruthless terrorists’ American journalist beheaded by ISIS
He is then shown being beheaded. . . .
Obama was briefed about the video, and “he will continue to receive regular updates,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said.
ISIS has carried out executions, including beheadings, as part of its effort to establish an Islamic caliphate that stretches from Syria into Iraq. In many cases, ISIS — which refers to itself as the Islamic State — has videotaped the executions and posted them online. . . .
Foley disappeared on November 22, 2012, in northwest Syria, near the border with Turkey. He was reportedly forced into a vehicle by gunmen; he was not heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, he was working for the U.S.-based online news outlet GlobalPost. . . .
The video of his killing also shows another U.S. journalist. The militant in the video, who speaks English with what sounds like a British accent, says the other American’s life hangs in the balance, depending on what Obama does next.
The journalist is believed to be Steven Sotloff, who was kidnapped at the Syria-Turkey border in 2013. Sotloff is a contributor to Time and Foreign Policy magazines.
The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates there are about 20 journalists missing in Syria, many of them held by ISIS.
Among them is American Austin Tice, a freelance journalist who was contributing articles to The Washington Post. Tice disappeared in Syria in August 2012.

(Hat tip: Memeorandum.) Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the terrorists who executed Foley the same “militants” the Obama administration supported during the 2011 “Arab Spring” in the State Department/CIA plan to overthrow Syria’s Assad regime?

 

Category: Iraq, Islam, Syria, Terrorism

Comments

100 Responses to “American Journalist James Foley Beheaded by Islamic Terrorists”

  1. CrustyB
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:02 am

    Anyone who argues that Islam is the “religion of peace” instead of a homicidal hoax needs to be shoved face-first into the hemorrhaging neckstump of this journalist.

    Anyone who voted for the world’s weakest, most ineffectual president needs to have a lobotomy, although I doubt the surgeon would have much to work with.

  2. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:22 am

    I don’t know man, making this one about Obama kinda makes you seem…small.

  3. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:27 am

    Donald Douglas was on a tweet last night that had this link from Frontpage.

    That is not to imply Foley deserved it or I am glad he is dead. I am not. But I think if Foley had such views going in, his perspective might have been changed a bit.

  4. OrangeEnt
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:29 am

    “A video released by ISIS shows the beheading of U.S. journalist James
    Foley and threatens the life of another American if President Barack
    Obama doesn’t end military operations in Iraq.”

    So the stupid terrorists got it wrong? They meant to say President Bush….

  5. ISIS allegedly beheads American journalist James Wright Foley | Batshit Crazy News
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:32 am

    […] TOM: American journalist beheaded by Islamic Terrorists […]

  6. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:38 am

    Are you seriously arguing that Barack Obama is at fault for terrorists beheading an American journalist?

  7. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:43 am

    Obama did not intentionally get involved in Syria to help ISIS. He was helping Syrian rebels, of which ISIS managed to wrest most control. So he went in unknowingly and ended up doing more harm than good (which is similar to what happened in Libya). Bush did the same, but he had the presence to stabilize things in Iraq. Which Obama then abandoned and let fall apart to a mostly Syria condition in much of that country.

    So making this about Obama is not out of line, especially when ISIS is directly their video to Obama over the recent bombing to save religious minorities in Iraq. What Obama should do is hit back ISIS twice as hard with drone attacks, special forces and assisting the Kurdish Peshmerga.

  8. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:45 am

    The killer’s blamed Obama. And yes, these same people were the administrations great hope for an “Arab Spring” to topple the Assad regime. At best, what we see is a continuing to embrace naivete as foreign policy, believing that if we just talk nice, these people will miraculously beam into the 21st Century and create a pluralistic, liberal society. This is a consequence of that naivete. We are in an existential battle with a philosophy that has not changed since the 7th Century and refuses to do so. There will be destruction. The question is whether it’s our society or theirs.

  9. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:49 am

    Thanks for providing that link. I grieve for Mr. Foley and his family. No one deserves that. Nonetheless, I marvel at the continued hubris of those on the Left who, having had the benefit of living in a pluralist, liberal society, somehow believe that merely expressing their “solidarity” with barbarians that the barbarians will embrace them. It NEVER happens. It’s reminiscent of those idiots who think they can be “friends” with grizzlies in the wild and wind up getting mauled to death.

  10. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:58 am

    You know who you sound exactly like? Hillary Clinton, when she tried to blame a Youtube video for the attack on the embassy in Benghazi.

    I dunno, call me crazy, but I’m going to blame the people who actually cut his head off on this one.

  11. OrangeEnt
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:58 am

    Are you seriously arguing that ISIS doesn’t know what it is saying?

  12. Katie Scarlet
    August 20th, 2014 @ 9:59 am

    At the very least he does not appear to understand the threat that ISIS poses to the US. What did he call them a few months back, JV?

    They don’t seem to be any different than the savages that killed nearly 3,000 Americans on 9/11 and much more organized.

    Maybe between nines he might take that into consideration. I the meantime I hope we all survive the next two years of his leadership.

  13. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:02 am

    Wow, I’m kinda blown away by that article and the comments.

    Never thought I’d see the day when a terrorist kills an innocent American, and Americans respond by mocking and blaming their murdered countryman.

  14. M. Thompson
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:12 am

    It is a religion of peace, just as Joe Stalin was a man of peace.

    A peace of Romania, a peace of the Baltic States, a peace of Germany.

  15. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:15 am

    No, I’m arguing that it’s stupid to believe them.

    If I cut off someone’s head and then point at you and say “It’s that guy’s fault!”, you think people should believe me?

  16. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:18 am

    No one is mocking him. Rather, the facts are what they are. He went to the area to “help” as is so often the case with these types of people. It is a child-like faith that one’s personal good will can somehow overcome the intense personal evil that exists in the souls of many, many people. It is sad that he discovered the falsity of that belief the way he did. And I, for one, would welcome a vigorous, punitive response to his murder. But we have not seen it; I doubt we will see it with this administration, for whatever reason.

    As an aside, historically the US did not accept any insult or injury to its citizens. In the 19th Century, our Navy was busily occupied with “Butcher and Bolt” missions, the purpose of which was to chastise any government/chief/warlord who dared to accost an American. Not surprisingly, when the knowledge of that willingness to avenge American citizens became prevalent, attacks on them diminished. Strength is protection. The current administration cannot seem to project that.

  17. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:21 am

    Also, see this. What action did the administration take to try to save him? I’m sure any number of our military men would have gladly volunteered for a rescue mission. Nothing was done. (Also, N.B. he’s wearing a keffiyeh in that photo.

  18. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:26 am

    No one? Here are few comments to that article:

    HA!! Joke’s on him!!

    I’m sure he was still laughing when the blade cut into his neck.

    He was a traitor and a fool.

    Some epiphanies come harder than others.

    Darwin Award.

    I was going to feel bad if he was an actual journalist in the manner of Catherine Herridge.

    Tell me more about how no one is mocking or blaming him.

  19. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:31 am

    No one on this thread is mocking him. I cannot speak to other trolls on other sites. If you have criticism of what’s written here, then make it and it will be respectfully discussed. Alternatively, take your criticism to the venue where the offending comments are displayed.

    And FWIW, the comments you mention, albeit without links, are indeed horrific. Again, nothing like that has appeared on these pages.

  20. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:34 am

    Not sure I’m following, what’s your point about a keffiyeh?

  21. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:39 am

    Wow, way to deflect for the terrorists.

    I feel almost silly saying that, because it seems absurd that an American — on a right leaning web site, no less — would be putting in work to divert attention away from the terrorists to Obama.

    But, there you are, plain as day.

    I like how you made sure to give the terrorists a small mention — buried in between paragraphs about Obama.

    Never thought I’d see the day.

  22. Paul H. Lemmen
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:46 am

    Death by misadventure is usually the citation on their death certificates. They are responsible for their own deaths due to ignorance or a fantasy world-view.

  23. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:47 am

    He went over there, not as a reporter, but as a hopeful propagandist. It bit him in the ass. Those are the facts.

    Did he “deserve” it?

    No.

    Are the IS terrorists evil and should they be vigorously pursued and dispatched without mercy?

    Yes.

    You cannot ignore all the facts in analyzing this situation. A refusal to acknowledge either his naivete or the current Administration’s will lead to further loss of American life to these savages.

  24. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:53 am

    Oh jeeze louise, of course I blame ISIS. ISIS is like Ebola. It needs to be eliminated and quarantined. They are murderous thugs and we should be killing them where ever they turn up. We have no choice but to stop this (because it sure won’t stop).

    Obama is just the idiot who let ISIS spread.

  25. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:54 am

    I love how you went from “No one is mocking him” to “No one on this thread is mocking him.”

    First, here are links to the comments:

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/james-foley-went-looking-to-support-terrorists-in-syria-instead-they-cut-off-his-head/#comment-1550692147

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/james-foley-went-looking-to-support-terrorists-in-syria-instead-they-cut-off-his-head/#comment-1550694224

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/james-foley-went-looking-to-support-terrorists-in-syria-instead-they-cut-off-his-head/#comment-1550724782

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/james-foley-went-looking-to-support-terrorists-in-syria-instead-they-cut-off-his-head/#comment-1550698052

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/james-foley-went-looking-to-support-terrorists-in-syria-instead-they-cut-off-his-head/#comment-1550643566

    Also, I have made criticism of what’s been written here. You, yourself, have replied to some of it.

  26. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:57 am

    Seth, you are being disingenuous now because no one is mocking Mr.Foley or suggesting he deserved what he got. But it should be a lesson (if that article is correct) not to trust Islamic terrorists and to perhaps consider things can get worse if you are not paying attention.

  27. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 10:59 am

    I’m so confused, when did American start rooting for the terrorists?

    This is seriously weird.

  28. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:00 am

    You made your initial comment without reference to other sites. Forgive the rather obvious assumption that you were referring to those comments posted here. I have already stated those comments were horrific. I do not sanction them nor do I defend them, FWIW. If you have criticisms of what I or others have written in comments here, then make them. Otherwise, go to Frontpage and engage with the offenders there. That would be the courageous thing to do, instead of expressing righteous indignation at people who’ve said nothing a) offensive or b) patently incorrect. Yet, you insist on refusing to deal with substance of my comments, preferring to denounce other people on another unrelated site.

  29. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:01 am

    Do you have a link or cite to support the claim of “hopeful propagandist”?

    Also, still waiting to hear your point about that keffiyeh…

  30. binkless
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:02 am

    Foley was murdered by barbarians. He was not “executed”.

  31. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:05 am

    See ELB’s link above regarding his Twitter feed.

  32. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:05 am

    http://twitchy.com/2014/08/20/whoa-report-isis-recently-threatened-to-kill-james-foley-and-obama-admin-knew/ Hmmm. Oh well, Martha’s Vineyard could not wait.

  33. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:08 am

    Seriously? Read this comment from RS above:

    “He went over there, not as a reporter, but as a hopeful propagandist. It bit him in the ass. Those are the facts.”

    When someone says “it bit him in the ass,” what they are saying is “he got what he deserved.”

    It’s hard for me to believe that you really don’t think that’s what is being said here.

    Who is it again that’s being disingenuous?

  34. TelegraphAve
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:10 am

    He doesn’t understand the threat posed yet America planes have bombing them for the last two weeks, and this administration has killed more targets in more countries than the last one. Do you even think about what you say. or does it all go through the “I hate Obama” filter?

  35. Katie Scarlet
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:11 am

    “Wow, way to deflect for the terrorists.”

    Really? That’s more than a little idiotic Seth. My comment was with regard to the President’s seeming disregard for the threat the terrorist pose to the US.

    Never thought I’d see the day.

  36. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:12 am

    Also, the keffiyah is a “marker.” In the Middle East–BTW, I’ve been to all the countries in the Levant on multiple occasions–it signifies “Arab/Bedouin” or more precisely, “Not Jew.” That’s why you see them prominently worn by Leftist protesters at demonstrations against Israel. It is the functional equivalent of wearing a Yankees cap. It say’s “I’m one of you.” I don’t expect you to believe it, but ask yourself, “Why do all these non-Middle East liberal protesters wear them?”

  37. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:13 am

    I read through the twitter feed. Didn’t see anything of the sort.

    Wait, did you make that claim about “hopeful propagandist” without having actually read any sort of evidence?

    Do you have even a single quote or excerpt from Foley to support this?

  38. TelegraphAve
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:15 am

    It’s very simple: as soon as liberals were in charge of dealing with the terror threat, conservatives started rooting for terror. This is part spite, part politics, and mostly irrational hatred. Liberals never did that to Bush.

  39. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:16 am

    Now you’re a troll. No one–repeat–no one here–repeat–here is “rooting for terrorists.” You are an idiot, and I’m done attempting to have a reasonable discussion with you. You ignore what’s written. You ignore actual arguments based on documented facts. You misdirect. You engage in rhetorical sleight of hand. You have forfeited any benefit of the doubt. Thanks for playing, though.

  40. TelegraphAve
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:18 am

    Conservatism is hatred disguised as an upright morality. Anytime I’ve ever taken a “moral” or conservative position toward other people I quickly realize my main motivation is that I dislike them.

  41. RS
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:19 am

    And this comment is responsive how? Your mask is off, dude. Give it a rest.

  42. MichaelAdams
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:20 am

    Seth, bless your heart, it appears that you are fairly new to this discussion. If you were not, you’d be aware that those whom you call Conservatives (inaccurately) have been saying for years that projecting weakness would produce these results. We did project weakness, and this has brought disastrous results to millions of people around the world..

    I realize that your Marxist teachers have taught you that the US is motivated by something that they call “capitalism”, which prompts us to invade countries to take their resources. The actual evidence for that silly notion is only found in Marxist theory, but never mind, it just must be true.

    What you believe is noble, really sweet. I believed such naive krep for decades, too. However, over the years, reality has collided with theory, and, inevitably, reality has won. It’s terribly sad that a journalist has been killed by the people he thought he could befriend. It’s really tragic, in that the horrible result has been predicted, but not avoided. Saying we told him, and you, so, does not mean that we are hardened to the tragedy. Rather, we see that we are on a disastrous course, and need to change, immediately, or six years ago.

  43. Seth
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:20 am

    Oh. Okay. Well I suppose that settles it. A terrorist murdered an innocent American, and Barack Obama made him do it.

  44. TelegraphAve
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:20 am

    Yeah. actually you are suggesting he deserved it, and mostly due to his hopeful outlook, and not being part of the American right.

  45. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:22 am

    You suffer from reading comprehension. Terrorists (not just a terrorist) murdered an innocent American.

    Barack Obama allowed the terrorist organization to spread (and it was foreseeable harm like this would happen).

  46. TelegraphAve
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:24 am

    Pure ad hominem bullshit, and mindless extrapolations not based on anything he said. And how did all that strength work out during the occupations of Iraq, and Afghanistan? Terribly.

  47. TelegraphAve
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:24 am

    So is yours.

  48. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:25 am

    I hope Obama keeps doing more attacks and more against ISIS. Yes, ISIS is reacting to the attacks of the last week. ISIS would not be there but for Obama’s omissions. But I support the President in cleaning up this mess before more innocents die (and ISIS will bring its war to the US if given a chance).

  49. Katie Scarlet
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:25 am

    The last two weeks? This has been going on for months, if not years. He considered arming them in Syria. Not long ago he called them JV. How many people have they slaughtered across Syria and Iraq? They have stated there goal as the destruction of the United States.

    He was practically forced into the latest attacks on them and last week he all but declared “mission accomplished”.

    I do not hate the President. I believe he does not understand the threat these people pose to the United States.

  50. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 20th, 2014 @ 11:25 am

    “Seth” is a concern troll, I should not engage him but it makes a point.