More information is coming out about the murder of James Foley. -Reuters

A tribute to the Foley family in Rochester, New Hampshire. Reuters

More information is coming out about the beheading of U.S. reporter James Foley by ISIS. -Reuters. Foley was executed in a gruesome video posted on youtube last Tuesday. ISIS had originally offered to ransom Foley for $100 million or for a prisoner exchange. America refused to pay. When U.S. airstrikes targeting ISIS happened this month the terrorists sent an e-mail to the family claiming that they were no longer interested in negotiation. They carried through with their threats to kill Foley. More details about the conditions of Foley's captivity were revealed as well as the fact that many other western journalists are being held in Iraq or Syria. Two French journalists that were held with Foley claimed that he had suffered worse treatment then everyone else because it was discovered that he had a brother in the Air Force and because he was an American. 

My Comment:

I can't imagine what Foley had to go through. Not to mention his family as well. Having to be an American with a relative in the military and captured by ISIS... it must have been terrible. 

As for why the government didn't pay the $100 million ransom, it seems obvious to me that they could not in good conscious do it. That money would have gone directly to an organization responsible for terrorism, genocide and countless atrocities. It might have even gone to fund an operation designed to attack America or her allies. No disrespect to Foley or his family, but no one persons life is worth that cost. Plus, paying the ransom would just encourage more hostage taking. Having said all that, I am glad that it wasn't my call. That's the kind of decision that you regret for the rest of your life even if it is completely justified and correct.

As much as I criticize Obama, and for good reason I might add, I can't fault him for this issue. His speech he gave the other day was good and he didn't downplay the horror of what happened. He also tried to rescue Foley and the others that were being held captive. You can question the results, but at least he tired. And most importantly, he didn't cave to terrorist demands. Again, I'm no fan of Obama, but I believe in giving credit when credit is due.