How ISIS actually looks.

ISIS being watched by Ole' Spooky in the sky.  AC-130 Gunships are awesome.

ISIS defector reveal why the terror group's hostages remain so calm before their executions

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/isis-defector-reveals-why-the-terror-groups-hostages-remain-so-calm-before-their-executions/story-fnihsmjt-1227258141208?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=CourierMail&utm_medium=Facebook

I unraveled this little tid bit of information here.  I thought it was quite interesting.  It would appear that the captive's are given a false sense of security by being brought to mock executions many times. ISIS waits until their captive's least expect it and perform the actual executions on camera.  Captives are often given Arabic names to help them identify a bit more with their captors.  Although it isn't mentioned in the article, I detect a sense of Stockholm Syndrome; a form of brainwashing which allows hostages to feel like they are part of the group.  Kind of sick and depraved if you ask me.  ISIS needs to be dealt with.  They are a looming threat that needs to be stamped out before any more innocents are slaughtered.

Richard Henri La Vigne IV
Westchester Community College
Journalism and Democracy
Prof. Passariello
2/7/2015

Journalism has increasingly become a more fatal field of work over these last few years. It turns out those who are digging up the truth are also digging their own graves. In this day and age, a journalist abroad can be considered a spy or possibly worse. As long as those in power are abusing their privileges and subjugating the people under their rule, there will always be those who seek to reveal crimes against humanity. In an effort to silence the truth, journalists are being picked off, kidnapped, or imprisoned. In Arab countries for instance, multiple American journalists have been snatched up and forced to read a final speech before having their heads removed agonizingly slow, most often with a dull knife. I have seen many videos of decapitations in this fashion, not just of journalists, but of civilians and prisoners of war.

The number of journalists imprisoned worldwide reached an all time high in 2012. During that year alone 232 journalists were thrown behind bars for doing their jobs. Just the year before that, only 53 journalists had been imprisoned. That is quite a leap. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CBJ) has research that proves over the last 20 years a journalist is killed every eight days while in the field. The numbers don't lie. Murdering journalists who are fulfilling their duty is doing injustice and wrong to the entire globe. The UN has a plan to fortify international efforts to fight impunity and increase journalist security around the world — which aims to create safer conditions for journalists.

Based on the pie-charts in the image provided, I have noticed the three most prominent beats that were being covered by journalists before being killed were Human Rights at 40%, War at 51%, and Politics at a whopping 63%. Based on this evidence, it is more likely a journalist will be thrown in jail to rot or die while covering a beat on politics. It is less likely a stray bullet  will incapacitate a journalist in a war zone during a shoot out than it would for a journalist to be punished for uncovering scandalous, filthy politics. Politicians in our country are like snakes. But I would imagine in war torn nations, Dictatorial regimes, and impoverished third world countries, those who are in control would do anything to stay in control and silence those who wish to reveal the truth. These type of journalists are often referred as whistle blowers or watch dog journalists. In total dissent, they aim to relinquish the power that these totalitarian titans have over the commonwealth.

46% percent of journalists who die are murdered. They are killed with 100% impunity and it is quite apparent. Ignoring these heinous crimes will make all of us the target of a violent backlash that will leave us marred or a completely demolished society. Journalism is not the same thing as “telling”. We the people, the commonwealth, the 99%, the ones who keep this country running; We are ruled by a privileged few who say they know what it means to struggle and live the life of an average American. They are telling you a lie. It is true that any man or woman can run for office. In fact, in a democratic society such as ours, we are all encouraged to become involved in politics. However, although any person can become involved in politics and work their way up, it is also true that there is much despotism and nepotism in politics. Many seats in senate, congress, or even the presidency are filled with people with the general know-how, charisma, and have friends in high places.

When you're in the upper echelons of Government it only makes sense to fill the seats around you with your friends. Your crew, your entourage, your team. Your sphere of influence will be that much more powerful with a few very good friends with common goals. People to help you plot, connive, and find different angles.  Our government sends the poor/working classes of our country to fight the poor and working classes in another.  Yet, we have more in common with them than we do the rich bureaucrats who run our country.  That goes for just about every world power.  If you think about it, the wars we fight now are pointless.  It has been theorized many a time that plenty of terrorists are on the CIA's payroll.  A lot of this might stem from the CIA training Osama Bin Laden and creating and funding Al-Qaeda only a few decades ago.    Our country in particular prefers to use the tactic of subversion under the guise of democracy.

Subversion: Actions designed to undermine the military, economic, psychological, or political strength or morale of a governing authority.