Second Execution by ISIS

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Second Execution by ISIS

In August of 2013, American journalist Steven Sotloff disappeared while reporting from Syria. Today, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria posted a video purporting the execution of American journalist Steven Sotloff. In the video, Sotloff speaks to the camera before he is beheaded, saying he is “paying the price” for United States intervention. The masked executioner blamed United States President Barack Obama for the execution as well, saying, “Just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people”.

White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, would not confirm the authenticity of the video, telling reporters “It is something that will be analyzed very carefully by the U.S. government and our intelligence officials to determine its authenticity”.

Assuming the video is genuine, the death of Steven Sotloff marks the second execution of an innocent American journalist in the past two weeks. On August 19th, James Foley was shown to be beheaded in a video similar to that of Steven Sotloff’s. It appears that these executions will not be the last by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The life of British captive David Haines is also threatened in the video and it is believed that at least two other captives are being held by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

With the departure of U.S. forces in Iraq and the ongoing war in Syria, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has thrived. Lead by Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the militant group is aiming to create an Islamic state across the Sunni areas of Iraq and Syria. The brutal executions of these innocent Americans is seen not only as a way of threatening the United States to back off from intervening, but also to energize ISIS supporters. With these executions, pressure on Obama has risen to respond to the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Sources

  1. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/world/middleeast/steven-sotloff-isis-execution.html
  2. http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/world/meast/isis-american-journalist-sotloff/index.html
  3. http://time.com/3258167/steven-sotloff-isis-video-james-foley/
  4. http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/world/meast/who-is-the-isis/
  5. http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/19/world/meast/isis-james-foley/
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