President Obama Vows 'Justice Will Be Served' For American Reporters' Murders By IS Militants

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

President Obama Vows 'Justice Will Be Served' For American Reporters' Murders By Islamic State Militants

Posted: 09/03/2014 5:47 am EDT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the United States will not be intimidated by Islamic State militants after the beheading of a second American journalist and will build a coalition to "degrade and destroy" the group.

Obama still did not give a timeline for deciding on a strategy to go after the extremist group's operations in Syria. "It's going to take time for us to be able to roll them back," the president said at a news conference during a visit to Europe.

The president's comments came after he said the United States had verified the authenticity of a video released Tuesday showing the beheading of freelance reporter Steven Sotloff, two weeks after journalist James Foley was similarly killed.

Obama vowed the U.S. would not forget the "terrible crime against these two fine young men."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/03/steven-sotloff-death-obama-reax_n_5757428.html

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[BlueCaliDem]

1. What's eerily strange about both beheadings

is the fact that neither Foley nor Sotloff appear particularly alarmed, while knowing they're going to be horribly killed. Were I them, I would fight to my last dying breath and not make it easier on the s.o.b. It wouldn't look good on the murderer that his victim isn't cooperating, right?

It's human nature to fight until the last moment when confronted with physical harm, so why did these two men not struggle? Were they drugged? In Foley's case, there are stills of him even smiling into the camera lens. My opinion is, they'd been drugged.

[Purveyor]

2. Or they are being lied to and told they are only doing a 'promotional video'.

I've thought the same too.

Also, the other day when isis had some 200 men/boys marching to their slaughter my thoughts were "my God why don't you people turn on your captors in mass and at least put up a fight, what have you to lose at this point?".

[BlueCaliDem]

4. In Foley's case, I can understand that "promotional video" theory. But Sotloff was there, right

beside him on the sands, and he's seen what they could do when they murdered James Foley.

at least put up a fight, what have you to lose at this point?

Exactly! Were I in that position - and not drugged out of my wits - I'd go down fighting because, indeed, what do I have to lose at that point, and why should I make it easier on them?

[candelista]

11. What would you have to lose?

There are worse ways to die.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

19. Have you seen any beheading videos?

I have and let me tell you, it is horrific. It is not the way you want to go out.

[candelista]

21. Yes.

And there are much worse ways to die, which ISIS would be happy to provide. Use your imagination.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

23. I can't think of anything worse.

But my instinct would be to fight to make it swift, as in bullet to the head swift. I know how I am, and they would never have the opportunity to cut my head off.

The ones I've seen, they're still alive half way through, and attempting to breathe. The gurgle is horrendous.

[candelista]

26. Really?

Think of how Muammar Gaddafi died. He was sodomized and disemboweled.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

27. I'm saying that that wouldn't even be an option.

I'm talking right up to the point where they try and apprehend me. If I'm in the Middle East, and some fucks start to grab me, they're going to have to shoot me.

There would be no hesitation to start fighting and have them kill me than to take me alive. Like I said, I know how I am.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

17. Exactly!!

I'll take a bullet to my head rather than have my head cut off.

No way would they ever get that chance.

[candelista]

24. That's not the choice.

There are much worse things than beheading. Think, for example, of the way Muammar Gaddafi died.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

25. They wouldn't have that chance.

I know how I am, and I know what I've seen.

They will be putting a bullet in my head because there is no way they're going to be able to do anything else. I'm not trying to be a tough guy, I just know who I am and how I would react.

[TwilightGardener]

3. They might have been drugged, or they might have had mock run-throughs

of making videos like this, with the instruction that if they cooperate, they'll live. I read that somewhere, and it seems to be why they would willingly state pretty crappy propaganda for ISIS and not struggle.

[BlueCaliDem]

6. In James Foley's case, I can understand that. But when he was beheaded, reports say that

Sotloff was right there kneeling in the sand with him.

On the other hand, Sotloff could've been taken away before his murderer slew Foley in cold blood. I haven't seen the vid (nor do I ever want to) so I can't say whether there was an editing, like a pause before James Foley was murdered.

But there has to be an explanation why these two men didn't even flinch as they were being murdered. It defies human nature.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

20. Even if Sotloff was taken away before ...

He returned to the camp without Foley. So, he must have known they completed the job.

[raouldukelives]

8. Or they were tortured. As much as I would like to think I would put up a fight.

I do not know the reality of it. The smell, feel & pain of being captured and beaten might overcome any concepts I would have of struggling with my captors at another in a long line of travesties.

[candelista]

9. What you saw was a rehearsal.

That's why the last few seconds show the ISIS guy "sawing" Foley's throat six times without drawing blood. Foley was probably killed later by another ISIS staffer--some non-English speaking beheading specialist.

[BlueCaliDem]

12. That would explain it, then.

I didn't see any of the beheadings on video so I didn't know there wasn't any blood. Then, what you say, makes sense.

[candelista]

14. Here is a link to the uncensored video.

http://edge.liveleak.com/80281E/u/u/temp.html?i=bc1_1408481278

[BlueCaliDem]

28. Thank you, sincerely, but I believe I'll pass on watching it.

I don't believe my stomach can handle it, and I'll take your word on it that it shows a bloodless "sawing" which can explain why Foley didn't struggle. I'll accept your theory that he most likely thought it was a rehearsal. That would explain his eerily quiet countenance.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

16. Quite possibly drugged ...

... also, I've read that they repeatedly use mock execution.

But, I'm like you; I wouldn't make it easy on them in the first place. While they're kidnapping me, I'd make them put a bullet in my head. No way is a knife ever going to touch my neck. Would never happen.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. My guess: They did a lot of rehearsal versions.

ISIS seems to want everything perfect. Who knows how many takes they did with each video? If each take ended with nothing happening, I can see why they could present a calmer image.

[gordianot]

5. You have to ask yourself what the real purpose is in actions such as be headings.

The first is ignorance of history such as Hitler making statements about Americans willingness to fight. Perceived actual and sometimes fabricated atrocities have always fueled American wars. When turned loose American resolve for war can be brutal. What part of that is lost?

On the other side Islam has from time to time has produced zealots gladly willing to kill and die. Is this a recruitment tool?

[candelista]

10. Yes, it has a dual purpose: terrorism and recruitment for terrorism. nt

[OnyxCollie]

7. Justice is not on the menu for detainees tortured by the CIA.

Funny how that works.

[candelista]

13. The important part of this story is "coalition to degrade & destroy."

More ground troops will be required.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

22. Perhaps not.

Sufficient Special Operators - Delta, DEVGRU, SAS, etc. can do handle them, though it will take time and patience.

I've read, though not confirmed, that we already have an element called Task Force Black (comprised of the aforementioned) already in theater.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

15. I really hope that we catch him alive and give him a proper trial.

That would pain him more than becoming a martyr. We have an opportunity here folks, to demonstrate that we abide by our values and justice system. Perhaps, even redeem ourselves a bit for GITMO.

Who am I kidding? I'm sure he'll be shot, not that he doesn't deserve it, but I'd like to see him in a court room and try to explain himself for his murders.