Obama: World 'appalled' by journalist's 'brutal murder'
President Barack Obama made a brief but strong statement Wednesday, saying the world is "appalled" by the "brutal murder" of journalist James Foley but that the United States won't stop confronting those responsible.
Posted — UpdatedThe comments come a day after Islamic State militants released a video showing the 40-year-old, missing since November 2012, being beheaded.
"It's an act of violence that shocks the conscience of the entire world," the president said.
Obama said he spoke with Foley's family and offered condolences.
"We are all heartbroken," he said.
Obama also said that the Islamic State "speaks for no religion."
It abducts women and children, and tortures, rapes, enslaves and kills people. He said the Islamic State targets Christians and other minorities and aims to commit genocide.
The extremists in the video called the beheading retribution for recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. They've threatened to kill another captive they also identified as an American journalist. Obama did not comment on the threat.
The president spoke Wednesday from Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, where he's been vacationing with his family.
Copyright 2024 by WRAL.com and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
