U.S. reasonably certain ISIS member Mohammed Emwazi was killed in a drone strike in Raqqa, Syria.
The item was noticed first on Buzzfeed who seems to have the best information. A couple of points made on Buzzfeed I think are interesting. The families of his American and British victims have spoken and the Americans are less satisfied. The Americans are angry that nothing was done while their family members were captive. They express displeasure that it had to come to this before our government acted.
Compare, the daughter of murdered British aide worker David Haines said that she instantly felt a sense of relief knowing he wouldn't appear in any more videos. She sees Emwazi as a pawn and as much as she wanted him dead she also wanted to know why he did it, why her dad, and how did it all make a difference.
The Americans do not have or at least do not express any such questioning. The mother of James Foley said Emwazi's death is small solace to them. Remarking about the U.S. government's hostage policy, she said, "All this huge effort to go after this deranged man filled with hate when they can't make half that effort to save the hostages while these young Americans were still alive."
The parents of American Steven Sotloff said, "This development doesn't change anything for us; it's too little too late. Our son is never coming back."
Closure. I don't care for that pop-psychology term. The people who use the term know that there is no such thing. Shirley Sotloff, the mother of slain Steven acknowledges by way of non sequitur by answering that they had no advance warning about the airstrike. Why is that a question, why would they be advised? Then adds she doesn't "think there will ever be closure."
She already said her son is never coming back. That closure is absolute. The fuzzy psychological lingering filaments never stop. That would mean you forget entirely. Why this even comes up is annoying.
The other thing one notices while reading, also a bit annoying, the responses of government officials are given first, this is mostly British interest so Cameron is doing most of the patriotic talking, at length following British officials and military spokespeople, John Kerry provides his remarks. Aristocrats speak differently, you know. We accept this mark of differentiation, language as tribal tattoo, please don't explain it again we understand why the Daesh (preferred by French) and not ISIS or ISIL, as we hold back a barf.
“we are still assessing the results of this strike, but the terrorists associated with Daesh need to know this: Your days are numbered, and you will be defeated.”
