Steven Sotloff: The Second ISIS Beheading Casualty
By Staff Reporter | Sep 03, 2014 08:18 AM EDT
Just a few weeks ago, the world was stunned by the beheading video done by the ferocious ISIS militants released as "A Message to America" that killed American journalist James Foley. Now the ISIS insurgents strike again through a second ISIS beheading video with Steven Sotloff, another US journalist.
The second ISIS beheading was reportedly intended again as retaliation for the Obama administration's continues assaults in Iraq.
Steven Sotloff, the American journalist and the second ISIS beheading victim was abducted on August 4, 2013 after crossing the Syrian border from Turkey near Aleppo. He was held in Ar-Raqqah. The victim's family kept the news secret, feeling threatened if they went public. Together with the government agencies, his family was working privately for his release. Two weeks ago, August 19, 2014, the terrorist organization ISIS released a video entitled "A Message to America", showing the beheading of fellow journalist James Foley. At the end of the video, the group threatened US President Barack Obama telling him that his next plan of action will adopt the destiny of Steven Sotloff.
Steven Sotloff, the 31-year old and the second ISIS beheading victim, is a freelance journalist that had worked for the news magazine Time, as well as Christian Science Monitor, The National Interest, Media Line, World Affairs and Foreign Policy, and had appeared on CNN and Fox News. His work had taken him to Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, and Bahrain.
Nevertheless, the US stepped up the airstrikes against ISIS, only days after the threat was released. The US troops were firing 14 missiles at various ISIS Humvees near the Mosul Dam.
An online petition was started by the journalist's supporter in the wake of the dreadful video's release, calling the attention of President Obama to save the ISIS detainee. The petition attracted thousands of signatures within days. Steven Sotloff's mother also released a short video message pleading the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi for his son's release on August 27, 2014.
At that juncture, the SITE Intelligence Group revealed the release of a video on September 2, 2014, conveyed as a "Second Message to America" to end the airstrikes in Iraq. The video reportedly shows Steven Sotloff's beheading execution by Jihadi John, the same English-accented executioner of James Foley. At the end of the video, a Brit citizen identified as David Cawthorne Haines is said to be the next target. The White House confirmed the video's authenticity.
Comparable to the first message, the second ISIS beheading video showed Steven Sotloff was also wearing an orange jumpsuit before beheaded by the Islamic State executioner. The executioner tells the camera: "I'm back Obama, and I'm back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State." He also threatens to kill the British hostage next.
US President Barack Obama did not make any statements yet about the latest ISIS carnage as he left for a state visit to Estonia. On Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the world was outraged at what they had seen. While British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the second ISIS beheading video, calling it as an absolutely disgusting and despicable act.
The ghastly second ISIS beheading video lasts for 2 minutes and 46 seconds and was a savagery repeated from the previous retaliation message. A niggling parting statement stated by the ISIS insurgents in reference to the US government was: "Just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people."
AS the second ISIS beheading video stunned the world again, the people are eager that these barbaric acts will soon stop and will save the lives of other threatened victims.
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