Thursday 4 Sep 2014
Video: Another journalist beheaded (Lateline)
Photo: Steven Sotloff's family says they are aware of the video (Site Intelligence Group)
Related Story: Second captured US journalist beheaded by IS
Related Story: Journalist Sotloff determined to record Arab Spring's human toll
US president Barack Obama has vowed to "degrade and destroy" the Islamic State (IS) after militants brutally executed a second captured American journalist.
The extremist group yesterday released video showing the beheading of 31-year-old Steven Sotloff, just two weeks after the execution of fellow US journalist James Foley.
"I'm back, Obama, and I'm back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State," the militant said, blaming US air strikes in Iraq for the deaths.
Mr Obama told a news conference in Estonia that the US will fight IS until it is no longer a force in the Middle East.
"The bottom line is this, our objective is clear and that is to degrade and destroy [Islamic State] so that it's no longer a threat not just to Iraq but also the region and to the United States," he said.
"Whatever these murderers think they will achieve with killing innocent Americans like Steven, they have already failed.
"They failed because, like people around the world, Americans are repulsed by their barbarism. We will not be intimidated."
The United States resumed air strikes in Iraq in August for the first time since the pull-out of US troops in 2011 and Mr Obama said the strikes are already proving effective.
YouTube: Obama on the killing of Steven Sotloff
"Those that make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget and that our reach is long and that justice will be served," he said.
He added that destroying the militant group will take time because of the power vacuum in Syria, the abundance of battle hardened fighters that grew out of Al Qaeda in the Iraqi war, and the need to build coalitions, including with local Sunni communities.
"This is not going to be a one-week or one-month or six month proposition ... it's going to take time for us to be able to roll them back," he said.
Top Obama administration officials punctuated Obama's warnings to the Islamic State.
"They should know we will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice," vice president Joe Biden said
"Because hell is where they will reside, hell is where they will reside."
The White House yesterday announced that Mr Obama was sending three top officials - secretary of state John Kerry, defence secretary Chuck Hagel and counter-terrorism adviser Lisa Monaco - to the Middle East "in the near-term to build a stronger regional partnership" against IS militants.
Sotloff's family remembers 'gentle soul'
Sotloff's family has paid tribute to the reporter, remembering a gentle soul with a fondness for junk food and golf who was fiercely committed to giving "a voice to those who had none".
"He was no war junkie, he did not want to be a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia: he merely wanted to give voice to those who had none," Sotloff family spokesman Barak Barfi said in a statement.
"From the Libyan doctor who struggled with psychological services to children ravaged by war to the Syrian plumber who risked his life by crossing regime lines to purchase medicine, their story was Steve's story.
"He ultimately sacrificed his life to bring their story to the world.
"This week, we mourn, but we will emerge from this ordeal. Our village is strong. We will not allow our enemies to hold us hostage with the sole weapons they possess: fear."
Cameron chairs Cobra meeting on IS threat
US and British officials have both examined the video, showing the same British-accented executioner who appeared in an August 19 video of the killing of Foley, concluding it was authentic.
At the end of the video militants threaten to kill a British hostage if the US action continues.
British prime minister David Cameron chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency response committee to address the broad threat posed by the extremist group and the government's possible response.
Ahead of the meeting, he condemned Sotloff's killing as "a despicable and barbaric murder".
"As I have said consistently over the last few weeks, ISIL terrorists speak for no religion," Mr Cameron said.
A violent sign of weakness
By resorting to the beheading of its Western hostages like Steven Sotloff, IS is reflecting its own weakness, writes Tim Mayfield for The Drum."They threaten Syrians, Iraqis, Americans and British people alike and make no distinction between Muslims, Christians or any other faith."
UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond said the government is re-assuring the family of the British hostage.
"We will look very carefully at the options available us to support the legitimate government of Iraq and Kurdistan in defending themselves against the threat from IS," he said.
"And if we judge that airstrikes could be beneficial, could be the best way to do that, then we will certainly consider them," he said.
Britain has so far not joined in US air strikes against the Islamist fighters, but like Australia, has helped armed Kurds fighting in northern Iraq and has dropped aid to people surrounded by IS fighters on Mount Sinjar and in the town of Amerli.
Italy has also announced a plan to start deliveries of weapons to Kurdish forces, including 200 machine guns and 2,000 rocket propelled grenades as well as 950,000 rounds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, Canada's public broadcaster has reported that three Canadians were directly involved in the kidnapping of two American journalists by Islamist militants in Syria.
Citing unnamed sources, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said the trio - whose identities are unknown - forced captives Theo Curtis and Matt Schrier to reveal their computer passwords, then drained their bank accounts and racked up credit card bills.
Curtis and Schrier were held in captivity together between 2012 and 2013. Curtis was released by the Al Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front last month while Schrier escaped last year.
The Canadian government said it is investigating, but would not comment further on "operational matters of national security".
- Sotloff family remembers gentle soul who sought out good
- Second captured US journalist beheaded by IS
- Australia delivers military supplies to Kurdish forces battling Islamic State
- James Foley beheading: Obama condemns 'barbaric' act
- James Foley beheading: Secret US bid to rescue Islamic State hostages failed
