# Alleged James Foley "beheading" video is so incredibly fake. How is anyone buying this bullshit? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069 "2014-08-21T07:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/281 "2014-08-25T17:25:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What bandwagon? I asked you days ago why anyone should give a shit if he was killed on-camera or off, and you still don’t have an answer. Neither does **EasyPhil**. Derp. Personally I think it’s pretty damned important that journalists and experts report accurately what has happened. A few days ago I was lead to believe that “video evidence showed the execution of James Foley”. If there is indeed evidence of the execution (perhaps the “still” is enough) then that should be made public and made explicit. If there is no direct evidence but strong reasons to believe then that should be made clear: “Experts believe that James Foley was executed because [REASONS]” Anything else is not appropriate, misinformation is misinformation. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/282 "2014-08-25T17:34:09Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Oh, I think you’ll find I have never disputed the thesis that the video in question was staged. Not even a little. > > But really, if you want sane people to take you seriously, you might consider leading with sane sources. When you start out with noted insane person and serial liar Alex Jones, you somewhat undermine yourself. Fair enough - I admit I kinda just grabbed the first source in a long list. But plenty of other reputable sources are saying the same. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/283 "2014-08-25T17:35:35Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > Personally I think it’s pretty damned important that journalists and experts report accurately what has happened. A few days ago I was lead to believe that “video evidence showed the execution of James Foley”. I guess it depends on what you read or watched. [Here’s the New York Times, for example.](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/world/middleeast/isis-james-foley-syria-execution.html?_r=0) > [@](#): > > Militant Group Says It Killed American Journalist in Syria > ISIS Video Purports to Show Beheading of James Foley > […] > The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria posted a video on Tuesday that it said showed the beheading of James Foley, an American journalist who was kidnapped in Syria nearly two years ago, according to a transcript released by the SITE Intelligence Group. [ABC:](http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/james-foley-video-appears-show-beheading-journalist-missing/story?id=25043593) > [@](#): > > Video Appears to Show Beheading of Journalist James Foley, Who Went Missing in Syria [NBC:](http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/kidnapped-american-james-foley-apparently-killed-by-isis-319842371631) > [@](#): > > Kidnapped American James Foley Apparently Killed by ISIS But sure, maybe **Rigamarole** and **EasyPhil** have been yammering for six pages because they feel some news outlets did not word their headlines precisely enough. I’m sure they’ll explain the nuts and bolts of their objections any day now because these guys are definitely not chickenshit. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/284 "2014-08-25T17:40:15Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > Personally I think it’s pretty damned important that journalists and experts report accurately what has happened. A few days ago I was lead to believe that “video evidence showed the execution of James Foley”. > > If there is indeed evidence of the execution (perhaps the “still” is enough) then that should be made public and made explicit. If there is no direct evidence but strong reasons to believe then that should be made clear: > > “Experts believe that James Foley was executed because [REASONS]” > > Anything else is not appropriate, misinformation is misinformation. Remember the “experts” early on said the video was “real” > [@Bozuit](#): > > The thing is, this can’t be purely an IS ploy; US intelligence said this is real. So either they’re idiots and **Rigmarole** is a fucking genius, or they’re lying in order to… what? Make the US government look bad? Turn people against the bombing Obama ordered? This is a very murky conspiracy indeed. > > The third possibility is that **Rigmarole** is a fool. Didn’t somebody mention Occam’s razor? Once “real” has been established by the "experts’ there’s no need to consider new information by “experts” or thinking for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/285 "2014-08-25T17:42:32Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > Once “real” has been established by the "experts’ there’s no need to consider new information by “experts” or thinking for yourself. You’re doing the same thing, dipshit. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/286 "2014-08-25T17:43:59Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > Once “real” has been established by the "experts’ there’s no need to consider new information by “experts” or thinking for yourself. And once “fake” has been established by “EasyPhil” there’s no need to explain why he knows that the “still photo” does not show Foley “dead.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/287 "2014-08-25T17:46:47Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > And once “fake” has been established by “EasyPhil” there’s no need to explain why he knows that the “still photo” does not show Foley “dead.” Because he says everyone who disagrees with him is an idiot. If you do that, there’s no way you can be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/288 "2014-08-25T17:57:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Because he says everyone who disagrees with him is an idiot. If you do that, there’s no way you can be wrong. You don’t see anywhere in this thread where I wrote that anyone was an idiot for disagreeing with me. Video is fake, deal with it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/289 "2014-08-25T18:03:30Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > You don’t see anywhere in this thread where I wrote that anyone was an idiot for disagreeing with me. Right. Tell it to this guy: > [@EasyPhil](#): > > This is dumb, anyone with a brain now knows he wasn’t murdered on this video. Snap out of that trance already. > [@EasyPhil](#): > > You don’t need an expert to tell you that the video is staged/fake, if your brain is working correctly you can clearly deduce that yourself. > [@EasyPhil](#): > > Look all you have to say is whether or not you think the video is real and my opinion is that you would be a fool to think that because it’s staged/fake. > [@EasyPhil](#): > > Video is fake, deal with it. 😃 For days people have been asking you for days what difference it makes. When are you going to deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/290 "2014-08-25T18:05:05Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > For days people have been asking you for days what difference it makes. When are you going to deal with that? What difference does what make? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/291 "2014-08-25T18:13:40Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > What difference does what make? What difference does it make if he was killed on camera or off? I asked this days ago: > [@Marley23](#): > > Related question: unless the guy is actually alive, which precisely nobody seems to believe and would make no sense at all in the context of their demands, who gives a flying fuck? Unless you think Foley is alive, this is pedantry. “Erm, _excuse me_, sirs, but he’s not technically beheaded on the video!” As a reality check, you should know that people here will probably be laughing at your CPR dummy theory for years and years. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/292 "2014-08-25T18:16:56Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > What difference does what make? I’ve asked you, specifically, at least twice, what difference it makes whether or not Foley was killed on camera. Perhaps the third time’s a charm. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/293 "2014-08-25T18:18:50Z")
This is prior to establishing the authenticity of the video: > [@](#): > > Earlier, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the administration had seen the video and that its authenticity was being analyzed by intelligence officials. > > “We have seen a video that purports to be the murder of US citizen James Foley,” Hayden said. “If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” she added Authenticity has been confirmed: > [@](#): > > “The US Intelligence Community has analyzed the recently released video showing US citizens James Foley and Steven Sotloff,” US National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlyn Hayden said. “We have reached the conclusion that the video is authentic.” > > The FBI reportedly informed the Foley family on Wednesday that the video is indeed legitimate, and that and that the agency is currently conducting a longer verification process, according to the Global Post. Source: [Foley video believed authentic – DW – 08/20/2014](http://www.dw.de/us-national-security-council-is-james-foley-video-believed-authentic/a-17868145) Now believed to be “staged” (obvious BTW when you watch it) > [@](#): > > The analysis highlights a number of discrepancies that could indicate that the beheading scene broadcast to the world was not the genuine killing. > > Firstly, no blood can be seen, even though the knife is drawn across the neck area at least six times. Secondly, sounds allegedly made by Foley do not appear consistent with what may be expected. The forensic analysis expert said that no incision could be seen on Foley’s neck, though the right hand of the jihadist partially blocked the shot. > > The commentary provided by the forensics company, which requested anonymity, did not reach a definitive answer. It concluded: “No one is disputing that at some point an execution occurred.” ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/294 "2014-08-25T18:20:14Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I’ve asked you, specifically, at least twice, what difference it makes whether or not Foley was killed on camera. > > Perhaps the third time’s a charm. There’s no evidence that he was killed and reports of his killing all ride on the staged video. If you know otherwise, please let me know. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/295 "2014-08-25T18:21:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What difference does it make if he was killed on camera or off? I asked this days ago: > > Unless you think Foley is alive, this is pedantry. “Erm, _excuse me_, sirs, but he’s not technically beheaded on the video!” As a reality check, you should know that people here will probably be laughing at your CPR dummy theory for years and years. I don’t know if he’s alive, but you seem to know he is dead. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/296 "2014-08-25T18:22:41Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > There’s no evidence that he was killed and reports of his killing all ride on the staged video. If you know otherwise, please let me know. Well, there is that photo of his body with his severed head lying on it, which you are going to debunk any minute now. Still preparing your presentation, I assume. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/297 "2014-08-25T18:24:43Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Well, there is that photo of his body with his severed head lying on it, which you are going to debunk any minute now. Still preparing your presentation, I assume. So, that’s the proof??? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/298 "2014-08-25T18:24:56Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > There’s no evidence that he was killed and reports of his killing all ride on the staged video. If you know otherwise, please let me know. There’s no evidence he’s still alive. Checkmate. [QUOTE=EasyPhil] So, that’s the proof??? [/quote] Better than your proof he’s still alive. How about explaining just what you think is lacking there, as you’ve been asked, oh, a half-dozen times or so? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/299 "2014-08-25T18:27:15Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > Authenticity has been confirmed: Oh FFS. You went on and on about this distinction earlier in the thread, and now you’re pretending it doesn’t exist. They didn’t say the video shows him being killed on camera. > [@EasyPhil](#): > > There’s no evidence that he was killed and reports of his killing all ride on the staged video. You don’t know that. > [@EasyPhil](#): > > I don’t know if he’s alive, but you seem to know he is dead. You’re pretty sure know the corpse at the end is a CPR dummy even though you don’t seem to know what a CPR dummy looks like. I’m pretty confident in my conclusion. That’s because I have enough experience to know that when the people arguing one side of an issue are total morons who can’t even explain their point, much less provide any real proof, that side is usually wrong. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/300 "2014-08-25T18:31:17Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > So, that’s the proof??? That is the known evidence, yes, that has been made available to us. You may now discredit the photo as fake, something that your vindicating team of experts has apparently not done, even though any idiot could easily do it. Please proceed. OP, feel free to jump in whenever you like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069.md?page=16)