WASHINGTON—Britain is close to identifying a suspect who is seen in an Islamic State video beheading a U.S. journalist who had been held captive by the group in Syria, Britain's ambassador to the U.S. said Sunday.
Ambassador Peter Westmacott declined to confirm British news reports naming the suspect in the video but told CNN that "we are close" to doing so.
He said the identification was made possible through the use of sophisticated voice identification technologies and other information. The suspect in the video has what appears to be a British accent.
James Foley, the U.S. journalist who was beheaded in the grisly video released last week, is one of several Americans held by the group known as the Islamic State, or ISIS, in Syria, U.S. officials say.
"Of course, the problem goes beyond one horrendous criminal," the ambassador said. "We've got more people than we would like. People think that maybe as many as 500 British subjects have gone to Syria and Iraq for this cause of Jihad."
I had been reading they've been working on this.
There have been apparently about 500 British Muslims fighting for ISIS/etc, many more than in the British Armed forces.
Britain Close to Identifying Suspect in Journalist's Beheading
Ambassador to U.S. Says 'We Are Close' Via Voice Technology and Other Information
By ADAM ENTOUS - WSJ
Aug. 24, 2014 - 10:10 a.m. ET
Britain Close to Identifying Suspect in Journalist's Beheading - WSJ
Maybe it's time to fuel up a drone.
Like the drone program is working.
Let's see, 13v years of drone bombing on two fronts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the most recent military report is another five to ten years left to fight.
Meanwhile every kill by drone generates five new terrorists.
I guess that's "success" in a land whose entire economy is based on feeding the military-industrial complex.
Meanwhile every kill by drone generates five new terrorists.
What this proves is that both American and EU foreign policy is encouraging terrorism.
I dislike the military-industrial complex probably as much as you, but when someone beheads an American citizen, I might be willing to make an exception.
One American.
Look, the grizzly visuals aside, you are being played. This is not the first American journalist to die covering conflict. In the last year or more two Canadian journalists, one of them working for an American outlet have been murdered. How is this different?
How does this, the beheading of a private citizens rate a war, when the intentional assassination of a sitting Ambassador only warrants a lame and still unfulfilled promise to have the FBI catch those responsible?
That was during an election in which Obama needed for it to appear his foreign policy of appeasing terrorists was working. Now, he is seen as a screw up on the international scene, weak as a church mouse after being forced to back down on his great idea of attacking Syria and being chased out of the Ukraine with his little tail between his legs.
Ambassador Stephens was the first sitting diplomat to die while serving his country since the Reagan era. It was played down and you were lulled into this confusing bull**** about it being a spontaneous demonstration.
Now you are being told that the very fabric of the American way of life is at stake because of the beheading on one American Journalist and you suck up that soup while chanting and marching in step demanding more war.
For a nation that has been trying to jam its way of life down the world's throat for a hundred years, a nation that rates itself superior to the rest of the world's systems, to use that as an excuse for war makes 1939 Poland look legitimate.
Mr. Obama needs a win, an increase in congress next fall. With a completely failed domestic policy and nothing but losses and embarrassments on the world stage, he needs a quick war with lots of claims of victories...and you are the mechanism by which he will get his war.
Cheer on, but when the next generation of terrorists comes along, don't try to come to Canada.
Allegedly a 23y/o rapper from London. Egyptian heritage and progeny of a bomber tied to bin Laden.
Another oppressed minority fighting back against "the man". If only someone had been kind enough to give him a free, quality education and food and housing and a respectable job....
I never said it was different. I abhor this conduct regardless of when it happens.
Killing this terrorists who did this beheading isn't starting a war, it's responding to others who have already started the war.
I didn't know President Obama had a tail between his legs. You aren't making a racial innuendo are you?
I wondered who that was in my head the last time I was thinking about Ambassador Stephens. Kindly stay out of my head in the future please.
There you go again.
There are a lot of things the U.S. has done that I am not proud of, and I don't think the American people are superior to others around the world. We are made up of people from around the world. Now, I agree there are plenty of people who teach this crap, aka Rush Limbaugh and company, but I don't buy into it.
Canada is a beautiful country and I would love nothing more than to visit there. In fact, after we move to Colorado, we plan to visit Canada soon. We won't move there however, too far from the family.
Those numbers are beyond suspect. Why don't you give us a link to that military report.Like the drone program is working.
Let's see, 13v years of drone bombing on two fronts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the most recent military report is another five to ten years left to fight.
Meanwhile every kill by drone generates five new terrorists.
I guess that's "success" in a land whose entire economy is based on feeding the military-industrial complex.
You didn't have to say it, you live it. You are making the distinction and telling the world it's OK to kill American diplomats but not certain, isolated instances of journalists or someone the White House suddenly and arbitrarily thinks is of national importance.
And can we get honest here? You are advocating bombing, that is war. Killing some people suspected of committing murder is a crime. You are either killing in the name of war or committing murder, take your pick.
Please, let's address how Banghazi and this are the same. Since you contend they are "not different", how is the empty promise of an FBI investigation the same as a civilian risking multi-million dollar attack drone campaign the same?
There is already a war going on. The USA and the other democracies would only be responding to it, should they choose to do so..One American. Look, the grizzly visuals aside, you are being played. This is not the first American journalist to die covering conflict. In the last year or more two Canadian journalists, one of them working for an American outlet have been murdered. How is this different? How does this, the beheading of a private citizens rate a war, when the intentional assassination of a sitting Ambassador only warrants a lame and still unfulfilled promise to have the FBI catch those responsible?
.Only the committed leftists believed that.Ambassador Stephens was the first sitting diplomat to die while serving his country since the Reagan era. It was played down and you were lulled into this confusing bull**** about it being a spontaneous demonstration
Told by whom? This is just hyperbole,Now you are being told that the very fabric of the American way of life is at stake because of the beheading on one American Journalist and you suck up that soup while chanting and marching in step demanding more war.
This makes no sense either.For a nation that has been trying to jam its way of life down the world's throat for a hundred years, a nation that rates itself superior to the rest of the world's systems, to use that as an excuse for war makes 1939 Poland look legitimate.
Maybe, but let's not forget that there is a genuine caliphate being constructed in the ME which has a lot of support from outside the ME, particularly in Europe. I can't see that as a good thing.Mr. Obama needs a win, an increase in congress next fall. With a completely failed domestic policy and nothing but losses and embarrassments on the world stage, he needs a quick war with lots of claims of victories...and you are the mechanism by which he will get his war.
Canada already has its own terrorists and Canadians are contributing to terror in the ME as well. Canada is no better or worse than any other democracy.Cheer on, but when the next generation of terrorists comes along, don't try to come to Canada.
NO one said this "rated a war".One American.
Look, the grizzly visuals aside, you are being played. This is not the first American journalist to die covering conflict. In the last year or more two Canadian journalists, one of them working for an American outlet have been murdered. How is this different?
How does this, the beheading of a private citizens rate a war, when the intentional assassination of a sitting Ambassador only warrants a lame and still unfulfilled promise to have the FBI catch those responsible? ....
.....
Guess that's another reason why they have been focusing on Voice ID.A London rapper is being investigated in the hunt for a terrorist dubbed 'Jihadi John' who is accused of executing American photojournalist James Foley in Syria.
Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 24, from west London, also known as 'L Jinny', is one of three British jihadis whose activities are reportedly being probed by police over the brutal killing.
Security services are also believed to be hunting Abu Hussain Al-Britani, 20, and Abu Abdullah al-Britani, who is in his 20s, as they investigate Islamic State extremists, previously known as Isis.
Bary, who is fighting in Syria under the name Abu Kalashnikov, posted a gruesome picture of himself holding a severed human head on social media just weeks before Mr Foley was beheaded.
Like the drone program is working.
Let's see, 13v years of drone bombing on two fronts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the most recent military report is another five to ten years left to fight.
Meanwhile every kill by drone generates five new terrorists.
I guess that's "success" in a land whose entire economy is based on feeding the military-industrial complex.
To be cynical..We could do nothing.....and we can wait until they bring it our way. Which eventually they will do. As our way of life.....is a threat to all that they believe in. Best to not let them grow strong and to a point where they are more of problem than they should have ever become.
NO one said this "rated a war".
A pretty perverse strawman you posted.
It would certainly rate another drone strike or two tho.
Nor were drones in Yemen, etc likely the reason this [apparenty] BRITISH RAP STAR went Rogue.
London rapper Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary investigated as police hunt for 'Jihadi John'
Published: 23 August 2014 Updated: 17:18, 23 August 2014
London rapper Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary investigated as police hunt for 'Jihadi John' - Crime - News - London Evening Standard
Guess that's another reason why they have been focusing on Voice ID.
See also
US, UK eye rapper as British-born militant who beheaded journalist James Foley | Fox News
Report: British intelligence has identified Foley's killer - Middle East Israel News | Haaretz
To be cynical..
I was not averse to letting ISIS and the Shi-Iraqi/ranians fight for 10 years.
Another Sunni v Shia Proxy war. (Iran v Saudi money)
Kind of a dream scenario that was.
But once ISIS broke into Kurd country, we owed them some 'goodwill' and I support their getting it.
And at some point much sooner than my idealized conflict, ISIS would inevitably have to be dealt with.
EDIT: I owe a 'hat tip' to Rainman05 for my OP fact that there are more British Muslims fighting in Syria/Iraq for ISIS (500) than are in the British Armed forces.
I say Nuke ISIS, and then Nuke the Whales !
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