The Politics of Islamic Beheading

islam2The videotaped beheading of a second American journalist Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State is titled Second Message to America. Scripted and filmed in the same manner as the videotaped beheading of James Foley both videos are primarily about disrespecting President Obama. The language, gestures and violence signified disrespect in the same manner as a gangbanger calling out a rival gang leader. The executioner in this latest video, who appears to be Jihad John from the first video, implements the philosophy of honor/shame cultures where ‘word is bond’.

Hence the Islamic State followed through on their threat and demonstrated that when they set a red line they mean it. If there were prizes for jihadist propaganda videos both of these would win academy awards in the category of recruitment. In the Sotloff video the executioner ratcheted up his in your face rhetoric stating,

“I’m back Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic state, because of your insistence on continuing your bombings ……, despite our serious warnings. You Obama, have but to gain from your actions but another American citizen. So just as your missiles continue to strike out people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.”

Referring to the President of the United States without title but simply as Obama symbolically strips him of the honor of that title and the position it represents. Pointing the knife at the camera while calling President Obama out is the kind of gesture that appeals to young men who respect strength and action, particularly if that action involves what is perceived as badass violence such as cutting off the head of your rival with a small knife as revenge for crossing your turf. This type of rebellious message attracts failed rappers and disaffected misfits who last year were wannabe gang bangers and this year are joining the Islamic State to become Mujahideen fighters.

The response to the James Foley video demonstrates how out of touch the main stream media is with global jihadist violence. The James Foley video prompted the ‘don’t share’ campaign to censor Islamic State propaganda on social media. This campaign was slightly effective in making it more difficult to view the Sotloff video. There should be no doubt that the campaign to remove the Foley beheading video was more about protecting President Obama, the primary subject of the film, than protecting the privacy of the family or reducing Islamic State propaganda. The call to remove these videos from the internet is political not ethical. Strategically it doesn’t work. There is an entire dark side of the internet that will always post murders on one of the many popular shock sites.

After the Foley murder several news headlines announced that beheadings are back. Beheadings never went away. There are hundreds of both cartel and jihadist beheading videos easily accessible on the internet that are far worse than the Foley video. Many display torture, crucifixion, castration, flaying and dismemberment. Most of them involve threats to commit further violence if their requests are not met. One depicts jihadists playing soccer with human heads. Several display multiple beheadings with as many as 17 victims at a time.

One of the significant differences in the Foley and Sotloff beheading videos are that they openly and blatantly denigrate President Obama. The first portion of the Foley video displays news clips of the President authorizing military operations against the Islamic State. Jihad John, the executioner, directly calls out President Obama. “..any attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic Caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people.” “The life of this American citizen, [hostage Steven Joel Sotloff ] Obama, depends on your next decision.”

The 4 minute 40 second Foley beheading video only shows ten seconds of violent imagery at the end, 04:20 – 04:30, that depicts a knife to the neck, fades to black and then the decapitated body as proof of kill. Similarly, there is only a few seconds of violent imagery at the end of the Sotloff video. The few seconds of violence could easily be edited out of both films, however the message that clearly disrespects President Obama is the real reason the media has collectively decided to censor the video.

There was no call for the removal of beheading videos in June 2006 when two American soldiers Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas Tucker were tortured, mutilated and beheaded in Iraq. Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas Tucker had their eyes gouged out, had their heart cut out, were castrated and their bodies were dragged through the streets beaten, kicked and left on the roadside booby trapped with IED’s. That video which is much more violent than Foley’s is still available on the internet, including Liveleak, a site that inexplicably decided to remove the Foley video after it aired for several days and did not post the Sotloff video. The 2006 video shows members of Al Qaeda in Iraq, the predecessor to ISIS, desecrating and playing with the American soldiers dead bodies and holding up Tuckers head for the camera. The liberal media did not get enraged over their deaths because the Mujahideen Shura Council who put out the horrific video as propaganda, falsely claimed that the soldier’s deaths were in retaliation for the Mahmudiyah killings, an incident that defines the Iraq war for liberals.

Beheading videos are an effective information warfare tactic. But part of their success is dependent upon instilling fear and influencing American policies such as restricting freedoms by censoring information. As horrible as the Foley and Sotloff videos are, a more effective reaction than censorship is to not demonstrate fear but to reply with conviction and strength. For example, a public response from Nick Powers, a Marine Corps veteran who sent an unambiguous message of strength and power, the message that President Obama should have sent:

“Remember we are armed to the teeth in the US and I can promise you this… the Geneva Conventions will not apply to you. You attack us and there will be no mercy. We will bring the righteous hand of God down upon you and crush you.”

Thank God for the United States Marines. They understand honor and know what kind of message to send to the enemy.

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  • Gbrandstetter

    When Israel the only force actualizing the Marine vow to crush the Jihad acts the same Obama gets concerned. Stops airtraffic ands prevents missile shipments

    • Pete

      Daniel Pearl was beheaded February 1, 2002. “The 2003 invasion of Iraq lasted from 19 March to 1 May 2003″. There was more than 13 months from Mr. Pearl’s demise and the start of the Iraq war.

      “The Iraq Resolution or the Iraq War Resolution (formally the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, Public Law 107–243, 116 Stat. 1498, enacted October 16, 2002 …”

      There is still a difference of 8 months. The vote was not a forgone conclusion. You had the brain diseased Lion of the Senate (who later died of cancer) going all out to stop the resumption of war.

      Before GWB you had terrorists killing Americans but not by beheading. There was Trans World Airlines Flight 847 where U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem was murdered. But I don’t think you much care, because you married a zoomie and they are not as likely to be in combat.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Pearl
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Resolution
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_847

  • kafir4life

    How Barry would modify the Marine’s statement:

  • https://twitter.com/LibsHateUs Ban Liberals

    How about beheading those who threaten America instead?

    • Anneke9

      No, that would make us Medieval barbarians. Leave that to the Muzzies.

      • https://twitter.com/LibsHateUs Ban Liberals

        Don’t take everything you read literally. Most (though not all) people who comment use SARCASM to make points. But we DO need to kill them. And that was not sarcastic at all.

        • Anneke9

          I did take it as sarcasm, but thought I’d cover your back in case some NSA spy thought you were serious and sends a SWAT team to your house. ;-)

          • https://twitter.com/LibsHateUs Ban Liberals

            Thank you!

          • Ellsworth Toohey

            Are you kidding ? CIA, SWAT, etc… at least the pre obama ones would be glad to kill these bastards.

          • ratonis

            A firing squad with bullets soaked in pigs’ blood would be OK, so long as the Muslims knew about the added material.

          • CapitalistPig

            You forgot to wrap them in bacon first!

          • Anneke9

            Problem is we now have the Obama ones… not sure I trust them.

  • roccolore

    Remember the murder of Lee Rigby? The media tried to make Muslims the victims.

    • Dawn Perlmutter

      Good point and we should also remember the ritual murders of Brendan Mess, age 25, Erik Weissman, 31, and Raphael Teken, 37—on September 11, 2011 in Waltham, Massachusetts by Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev.Their bodies had multiple stab wounds and their throats were slit from ear to ear with such force that they were nearly decapitated. The media ignored the story until after the Boston marathon bombings.

  • Phil McMorrow

    The Israelis learned the only thing a muslim terrorist fears is the family losing their house. Then the Israelis brought in the bull dozers. The punishment didn’t fit the crime, but it came close.

    • Ellsworth Toohey

      I would recommend the house loosing its family approach. Better kill the rats than the nest, isn’t ,

  • Heisenberg

    This problem will not be addressed with political discourse or diplomacy. The only message these people will listen to is if we use the 2×4 over the head approach.

    • CapitalistPig

      We used to call it “2×4 counseling”……or “wall to wall counseling”.

  • Boots

    I’ve always recommended that leftists who believe in the myth that Islam is peaceful try a little experiment. Put on a visible cross or Star of David and go for a stroll in any Muslim majority city… including Dearbornistan or the no go areas in Europe. If they make it out alive I request they give the rest of us a report on how gentle Islam is to infidels. We aren’t facing just an “ISIS problem”. For those who forget… when 9/11 occurred Muslims were handing candy to children in the streets while the vast majority were celebrating.

  • Ellsworth Toohey

    To corner Pablo Escobar, a paramilitary organisation was used to threaten and often kill his friends, aides, lawyers (I like that :) ), uncle, brothers even his own wife and kids. Of course the CIA denied any involvement, just happened they were not looking. Guess what ? It worked. Years back, in Lebanon, the Soviets did the same, plus they cut some mollah in small pieces to spice the dialogue that turned out to be very positive. Their hostages were freed. So yes, deals are possible with these bastards, just use the proper arguments.

    • Boots

      Good analysis. There’s a reason the old Soviets seldom had to deal with the same stuff we do. They’d hunt down entire families of the kidnappers, kill a bunch, then ask the kidnappers if they’d like the remaining back in exchange for releasing the hostages. Obama is fighting third world ethics with naivete and first world values… plus I don’t think he really cares except for the bad PR he’s getting.

      • Here today Gone to Maui

        As long as nothing interferes with his golf game, it’s all good

  • Pete

    Daniel Pearl was beheaded February 1, 2002. “The 2003 invasion of Iraq lasted from 19 March to 1 May 2003″. There was more than 13 months from Mr. Pearl’s demise and the start of the Iraq war.

    “The Iraq Resolution or the Iraq War Resolution (formally the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, Public Law 107–243, 116 Stat. 1498, enacted October 16, 2002 …”

    There is still a difference of 8 months. The vote was not a forgone conclusion. You had the brain diseased Lion of the Senate (who later died of cancer) going all out to stop the resumption of war.

    Before GWB you had terrorists killing Americans but not by beheading. There was Trans World Airlines Flight 847 where U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem was murdered. But I don’t think you much care, because you married a zoomie and they are not as likely to be in combat.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Pearl
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Resolution
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_847

  • Here today Gone to Maui

    Previously a uk website called ‘LiveLeak.com’ posted beheadings but not anymore, the operators of the uk site have decided to do what the authorities told them to do …. deceive members and the public via censorship. islam is peace *sarc off*

  • Pericles

    “Message to America. Scripted and filmed in the same manner as the
    videotaped beheading of James Foley both videos are primarily about
    disrespecting President Obama.”

    I disagree. It was primarily about telling Obama that if he threatens their Caliphate with air bombings they will retaliate with the kind of savagery that was last practiced by Mohammed and the likes of Attila the Hun. But they won’t be using swords, lances and arrows!

  • Pericles

    “This type of rebellious message attracts failed rappers and disaffected
    misfits who last year were wannabe gang bangers and this year are
    joining the Islamic State to become Mujahideen fighters.”

    Making this a recruitment video? Saying, in effect, ‘hey, you sadistic gang bangers and resentful rappers, if you want to make a difference, here’s your ideal profession’?

  • Pericles

    “There is an entire dark side of the internet that will always post murders on one of the many popular shock sites.”

    The internet, like nuclear energy, is a mixed blessing. The two may eventually produce Armageddon.

  • Pericles

    “Several display multiple beheadings with as many as 17 victims at a time.”

    ISIS recruitment ad: ‘Wanted! Beheaders able to multitask in a fast moving environment. Beheading infidels is a growing profession. No college degree required. Preference will be given to butchers with 3 years experience’.

  • Pericles

    “The liberal media did not get enraged over their deaths because the
    Mujahideen Shura Council who put out the horrific video as propaganda,
    falsely claimed that the soldier’s deaths were in retaliation for the
    Mahmudiyah killings, an incident that defines the Iraq war for liberals.’

    No matter how dastardly or atrocious the barbarism against innocent victims, the liberal media always portrays them as retaliation against ‘unjust’ treatment of Muslims. According to them, whatever evils the Islamists inflict on us are ALWAYS the result of “evils” we first inflict on them.

    These are sick people who desperately need mental health professionals to help them understand their pathology before they inflict monumental pain and suffering on the rest of us!

  • Pericles

    “Thank God for the United States Marines. They understand honor and know what kind of message to send to the enemy.”

    We should have never abolished the Draft. We would not have so many pacifists and uninformed citizens as we do today. The possibility of going to war makes you pay more attention to what’s happening in the world!

  • Pete

    Driver’s license photos of the 29 people indicted in a human trafficking case, from a filing in federal court in Tennessee.

  • Pete

    I have watched 2 videos. Nick Berg’s beheading and the Aleppo butcher shop. It is not my cup of tea. I don’t get off on that type of stuff. I do not need to seem more to understand or to get fired up. To get fired up all I need to know is that what we do is ineffective, Obama is ineffective at best and you write a complete college essay with almost every post taking a leftist point of view while pretending to be moderate or conservative.

    ModerationisBest is that you? You persona management software is failing.

    “The fact the families of these victims are telling you not to watch them is reason enough not to watch.”

    The fact that more people have watched American Idol, care more about it and similar things is the very reason why people should watch the beheadings.

    But since you are on your Kumbaya offensive, I figured I am not fired up enough. Now I will watch all the freaking beheading videos you stupid B____!

  • Pete

    The thing is that when I read your post you remind me of the type of dumb F__K of a person that would try something like Serenity.

    Yes it is science fiction. Yes, sometimes I don’t want to tell people I watch it. It is a space western and people say it is cliche and over the top. Then I read the news, where someone got themselves a science degree and are suggesting that we give the population oxycontin. You strike me as that type of M0R0N!

    I read that story 2 or 3 days ago. How does it come to my mind unbidden as I read your posts?

    As Mike Savage said, when you are depressed in many instance, you are supposed to be depressed. don;t take a pill for it. It is the emotion that lets you know that you should take some positive action to fix your life. Do not just “paper over” it so to speak with a pill.

    We see these beheading videos. We are supposed to get depressed and angry. We are suppose to do something about.that something is not meals on Wheels under fire or singing Kimbaya dumb B_TCH!

    Who would have though a zoomie would have married some one so dumb! Ah well love is blind.

  • andrewwhitehead

    The Geneva Conventions were never designed to protect terrorists. The UK has already surrendered to Muslim “extremists” and France, Germany are next. Norway and Sweden might as well be packing the good china and finding another state outside Europe in which to live.
    Whenever Muslims get more than 10-20% of the population, we see demands for “respect”; I have zero respect, as a Christian, for Islam.