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August 20, 2014

Islamic State Says U.S. Journalist James Foley Beheaded in Revenge for Iraq Airstrikes 
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The Islamic State appears to have beheaded American journalist James
Foley in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. Foley had reported for
Global Post and Agence France-Presse before his capture in Syria in
2012. In a graphic video released Tuesday, a man presumed to be Foley is
shown in an orange jumpsuit — an apparent reference to U.S.
prisoners at Guantánamo. Before the beheading, he recites a statement
blaming his death on the U.S. government and calling U.S. airstrikes
"the last nail in my coffin." Foley was previously captured in Libya in
2011 and held for weeks by forces loyal to ousted leader Muammar
Gaddafi. He reflected on that experience in an interview with The Boston
Globe.

James Foley: "You don't want to be defined as that guy who got captured
in 2011, and I believe that frontline journalism is important. Without
these photos and videos and firsthand experience, we can't really tell
the world how bad it might be."

In a statement, James Foley's mother, Diane Foley, said: "We have never
been prouder of our son, Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the
world to the suffering of the Syrian people." The Islamic State video
also claims to show another American journalist, Steven Sotloff, who has
been missing for a year. The militants say his life depends on Obama's
"next decision."

 

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