James Foley: American Beheaded Video Goes Viral; US Wants War Against ISIS? Netizens React

A video recently posted by ISIS on YouTube showed an individual being beheaded by a member of the jihadist group. What made this particular clip, uploaded Tuesday, significant is the fact that the person in question is no nameless, unknown citizen.

It can be recalled that a number of videos and photos of ISIS beheadings have been making the rounds in cyberspace in the past. However, unlike the others, this specific video gained widespread attention due to the fact that the person featured in the footage is an American journalist, James Foley. He has been missing since 2012 after being "reportedly forced into a vehicle by gunmen," according to CNN. He has not surfaced or heard of again since that report, until now.

"Foley is seen kneeling next to a man dressed in black," CNN said of the footage. "Foley reads a message, presumably scripted by his captors, that his 'real killer'' is America."

"I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers - the U.S. government - for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacent criminality," the captured journalist said in the clip, as quoted by The New York Times.

"I wish I had more time. I wish I could have the hope of freedom of seeing my family once again, but that ship has sailed. I guess all in all, I wish I wasn't American," he concluded, as noted by ABC News.

A few seconds later, someone all dressed in black stood by the orange-clad American and produces a knife, declaring himself "as with the Islamic State, the name the brutal terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria took on after its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared himself the leader of all Muslims," the news source reported.

"Today your military air force has attacked us daily... Your strikes have caused casualties amongst Muslims," the black-clad person said. He then states a line that appears to be directed to President Obama directly, stating that "any attempt... to deny the Muslims their right to live in safety under the Islamic caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people."

After the said statement, the journalist was then killed. However, the footage does not end there. Steven Sotloff, another American also dressed in orange, was presented on his knees. The U.S. citizen has also written for the likes of Time and other national publications.

The figure in black then said that Sotloff's life depends on President Obama's next decision.

While authorities are still verifying the authenticity of the said video, U.S. netizens have reacted with dismay and sadness at Foley's plight, especially after his mother implored the kidnappers "to spare the lives of the remaining hostages," The Daily Mail noted. "Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world," she said.

Some netizens have gone on to denounce the act, saying that Foley's execution is seen as ISIS' way of declaring war against the U.S., as Twitter user Zackery Daley tweeted.

Meanwhile, user James Foster said that, "The murder of James Foley should remind us we are not at war with any specific religion. We are at war with barbarism."

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