Second American Journalist Steven Sotloff Beheaded

[sadmin]

Oh yea- I cannot even pretend to fathom. I just remember all those horrible videos on Consumption Junction with the Serbs and they just went to it. Terrible.


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[glocktogo]

Anyone been to DU yet?

So far I've gathered that this journalists death is GWBs fault, if we just sat down and talked with them we could figure out what makes them upset, and my personal favorite "the US is responsible for dozens of innocent deaths every day in drone strikes. While they are more sensational the end result is the same. At least their numbers are fewer than ours."

These are verbatim. Not making typical hippy jokes.

I nominate the collective membership of DU to be our representatives in a FTF negotiation with ISIS. Perhaps they could get the staff at Daily Kos to tag along and cover the event!

[thopkins22]

If the next journalist recites the same blurb I'm going to be confused- at this point what are the chances the victim will be spared? Why comply?

Threats against your family(not that hard to figure out where his parents live with a little help from the internet.) Threats that if you don't they'll kill your fellow prisoners too. Threats that instead of just killing you, they'll slice your penis lengthwise and tie the two halves into a knot, rip your fingernails out and drill your teeth.

I'm just guessing...but if you're held by people savage enough to cut someone's head off with a knife on video who have the support of an organization big and brutal enough to take over a country...I'm guessing you might be willing to take those threats seriously and hope that everyone in your home country is smart enough to realize that it's a statement made under duress.

The only problem is that these videos(particularly the statements,) aren't really for us. ISIS is in fact waging a war of popular opinion in Iraq and all over the ME. While we can see right through it, there are plenty of people there who may not see the statement for what it is.

All I can think about when I see these videos is Paul Howe's mindset video. You will almost certainly die regardless of what you say or do. You may as well do your best to make them regret it...even if all you can do is bite a finger and spit in your captor's face.

[Eurodriver]

I nominate the collective membership of DU to be our representatives in a FTF negotiation with ISIS. Perhaps they could get the staff at Daily Kos to tag along and cover the event!

No doubt. It is hard to fathom how people like that survive daily life.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025478523

Rhinodawg (688 posts)
20. Maybe we need to talk to them...find out why they are upset.

learn to ... "COEXIST."

Walk in their shoes.

grahamhgreen (13,113 posts)
31. Now we can attack Assad! We started this. Out now.

Condolences to the family. Another death GWB is responsible for.

morningfog (8,532 posts)
55. Very sad. However, I wish we cared as much for every innocent person the US military kills.

While the method IS uses is sensationalist and disturbing, the end result is the same. A dead innocent.

[Eurodriver]

All I can think about when I see these videos is Paul Howe's mindset video. You will almost certainly die regardless of what you say or do. You may as well do your best to make them regret it...even if all you can do is bite a finger and spit in your captor's face.

I understand your point, but I want to live longer - not shorter.

"Come on man...can I just have some water my throat is really dry I'm having a tough time speaking?"
"Let's not read this script right now, my eyes are burning from this sunlight. Can we do it in the evening?"

Sounds silly, but it can work if you develop a rapport/respect with your captors.

[Safetyhit]

I'm not too worried about it. With the exception of a few states such as yours, America really does have a rifle (or pistol) behind "every blade of grass".

These assholes are tough in a land where they are the only ones with the means to deal in death. That won't be the case here.

Whatever happens to Americans (or anyone else for that matter) who happens to go glory-hounding in dangerous places is not my concern. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes and all that.

Edited for my friend above who would surely disapprove. Tensions are high, no harm intended.

[skydivr]

No doubt. It is hard to fathom how people like that survive daily life.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025478523

THESE People are why the enemy is winning....

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

ETA: It's worth remembering that Obama didn't actually want to leave Iraq. He was bound by law to leave Iraq(a bill signed into law by GWB....) I'm not a fan of Obama, he's the worst president since FDR. But that's a title he only barely managed to usurp from his predecessor.

That is the first I've heard put it that way. I usually hear the status of forces being the issue. Considering that a law that restrains a president's ability to practice foreign policy seems a bit tenuous, BHO seems to have no problem ignoring laws that impede his ability or run counter to what he wants to do.

You have a citation for that?

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

On following their orders and making statements, I assume that they condition these guys with mock executions day in and day out. Read the statement or we beat you silly. How many weeks of that do you go thru before you read the statement and then they take you to breakfast, except on the last day. That and/or drugs. Hold a kid/woman off camera and say that they'll kill them if you don't comply. Got to be lots of ways to break someone.

The ultimate irony is that it seems like most of these reporters went to Syria to highlight the Assad atrocities, and that strengthens the hands of the rebels.

[7.62WildBill]

ETA: It's worth remembering that Obama didn't actually want to leave Iraq. He was bound by law to leave Iraq(a bill signed into law by GWB....) I'm not a fan of Obama, he's the worst president since FDR. But that's a title he only barely managed to usurp from his predecessor.

Obama made campaign promises as both Senator and President to remove ALL US troops from Iraq.

Obama had absolutely no motivation to aggressively renegotiate the SOF agreement, since leaving troops in Iraq would be viewed as a failure by his political base.

He knew getting the troops home would be easy, since all he had to do was nothing, but it backfired on him and the rest of the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=dC3q8H0JIbE