ISIS has released a video of the execution of British aid worker David Haines. The video shows Haines in the now familiar orange jump-suit kneeling beside a terrorist who speaks with the same London accent as the executioner of James Foley and Steven Sotloff.
The executioner tells British Prime Minister David Cameron that the killing is retribution for his “evil alliance with America, which continues to strike the Muslims of Iraq.” He also threatens to kill another British hostage, Alan Henning.
Cameron said of the execution, “This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker. It is an act of pure evil. My heart goes out to his family who have shown extraordinary courage and fortitude.” He vowed to “do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes.”
I hope that by “these murderers” Cameron means the whole of ISIS. To focus on bringing specific individuals like the executioner to justice would be like going after the pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor. ISIS is an army and a would-be State. It should be dealt with accordingly.
Britain has so far declined to participate in air strikes against ISIS, limiting its involvement to sending arms to Kurdish forces and providing intelligence. Perhaps now it will be moved to undertake direct military involvement.
Haines, age 44, is the father of two, including a four year-old daughter. A veteran of the Royal Air Force, he was working for the French humanitarian agency ACTED, applying his expertise to provide aid to people living in the midst of war. Before going to Iraq, he provided humanitarian services in the Balkans and Africa.
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