September 3, 2014
Mariah Timms
News Writer
World News
The video released by militant group ISIS purporting to show the beheading of American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff has been authenticated by US intelligence services. The video, undated and released online Tuesday, follows the August 19 release of a similar video showing the beheading of American journalist James Foley.
President Obama responded to the threats of continued violence against American citizens by releasing a statement in which he insists the US will not be intimidated by ISIS. CNN reports his words, “Our objective is clear. That is to degrade and destroy (ISIS) so it’s no longer a threat,” he said. “We can accomplish that. It’s going to take some time, it’s going to take some effort.” The US government plans to implement a regional plan in response to the murders, as ISIS forces are spread across Iraq and Syria.
Sotloff was first confirmed hostage at the end of the August 19 video of Foley, and similarly a British journalist was threatened at the end of the more recent video. The UK Prime Minister David Cameron made a similar statement to Obama, in which he said “This country will never give into terrorism … a country like ours will not be cowed by these barbaric killers.”
