GlobalPost, the online news company that American journalist James Foley was freelancing for before his capture by Islamic State militants in Syria two years ago, released the menacing email the militants sent to Foley's family before he was beheaded, an execution that ISIS broadcast to the world in a video released August 19.
The email chastises the American government for not negotiating over the release of Foley and for U.S. airstrikes on militant targets in Iraq. It concludes with threats of bloodshed, beginning with Foley's. Warning: The text may be upsetting.
HOW LONG WILL THE SHEEP FOLLOW THE BLIND SHEPPARD?
A message to the American government and their sheep like citizens:
We have left you alone since your disgraceful defeat in Iraq. We did not interfere in your country or attack your citizens while they were safe in their homes despite our capability to do so!
As for the scum of your society who are held prisoner by us, THEY DARED TO ENTER THE LION’S DEN AND WHERE EATEN!
You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted,We have also offered prisoner exchanges to free the Muslims currently in your detention like our sister Dr Afia Sidiqqi, however you proved very quickly to us that this is NOT what you are interested in.
You have no motivation to deal with the Muslims except with the language of force, a language you were given in “Arabic translation” when you attempted to occupy the land of Iraq!Now you return to bomb the Muslims of Iraq once again, this time resorting to Arial attacks and “proxy armies”, all the while cowardly shying away from a face-to-face confrontation!
Today our swords are unsheathed towards you, GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS ALIKE! AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTILL WE QUENCH OUR THIRST FOR YOUR BLOOD.
You do not spare our weak, elderly, women or children so we will NOT spare yours!
You and your citizens will pay the price of your bombings!
The first of which being the blood of the American citizen, James Foley!
He will be executed as a DIRECT result of your transgressions towards us!
Foley's family received the email on August 12, the week before his execution video was released. ISIS had demanded over $132 million for Foley's release, according to the GlobalPost. The U.S. government was made aware of the demands, but held to its policy of not making concessions to terrorists. The email released by Foley's family and GlobalPost was the last of six, GlobalPost's president told CNN.
The gruesome killing has shocked the world, drawing sharp rebuke from President Barack Obama and Pope Francis. On Wednesday the Obama administration revealed that U.S. forces had attempted to rescue Foley and other American hostages held in Syria earlier this summer, but the effort had been unsuccessful. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into Foley's killing. The video released on Tuesday also showed another American journalist being held hostage by ISIS, Steven Sotloff. The New York Times reports that Sotloff may be one of three American hostages ISIS has threatened to kill if its demands are not met.