Five years ago today, American journalist James Foley was murdered by the Islamic State. Foley’s execution was an homage not to ISIS’s claims of ordained supremacy, but to the courage of a great man.
Because Foley’s final moments were defined by quite extraordinary courage. As the knife came down, Foley grimaced but never cried out. And Foley’s murder, though a terrible act of immorality, hasn’t been without enduring moral purpose. As the James Foley Foundation noted on Twitter today, his name now stands as a marker to help American hostages abroad.
It has been five years since James W. Foley was murdered in ISIS captivity in #Syria. Ever since then, @JamesFoleyFund has fought for journalist safety and freedom for all American hostages held abroad. pic.twitter.com/ZJ6UDPoAcY
— JamesFoleyFoundation (@JamesFoleyFund) August 19, 2019
Fortunately, the vast majority of Foley’s murderers have now been brought to justice. Mohammed Emwazi (aka Jihadi John) was turned into dust by a Hellfire missile. And if the Trump administration wakes up, it can ensure that the remaining members of Emwazi’s cell also meet American justice.
But we should never forget Foley nor those other journalists killed as they sought to report back to us at home.
The list of recent names is too long, but a few include Daniel Pearl, murdered in Pakistan by al Qaeda in 2002; Kate Peyton, who was killed in Somalia in 2005; Marie Colvin, killed in a Syrian regime attack in 2012. Many others have narrowly escaped death. Kim Dozier, for example, was critically wounded in a 2006 car bomb attack in Iraq (two of Dozier’s colleagues died in that attack).
To truly honor these fallen servants, we should remain focused on their colleagues who might yet be saved, and those, such as Austin Tice, who remain unjustly detained far from home.
