# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/61 "2014-08-21T23:13:49Z")
Dear God, does _everything_ have to be a conspiracy? [William of Ockham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Ockham) produces an excellent shaving utensil which I highly recommend. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/62 "2014-08-21T23:56:47Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, just so I’m perfectly clear on your position, they didn’t actually kill Foley, so that way they can make another tape later, in which the narrator says “You know that American hostage we killed last time? Well, now we’re going to kill him again!” Am I right? Serious question for the OP, do you think Foley is still alive? > [@Bouncer](#): > > Regards, > -Bouncer- Don’t do this, OK? Just don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/63 "2014-08-22T00:43:07Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Next you’ll tell me Chef wasn’t really beheaded. And Louis XVI. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/64 "2014-08-22T01:06:32Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Don’t do this, OK? Just don’t. Do what? Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/65 "2014-08-22T02:32:04Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/66 "2014-08-22T02:52:37Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, just so I’m perfectly clear on your position, they didn’t actually kill Foley, so that way they can make another tape later, in which the narrator says “You know that American hostage we killed last time? Well, now we’re going to kill him again!” Am I right? No fucking clue why they did it. But it’s obviously not real. > [@PlainJain](#): > > Serious question for the OP, do you think Foley is still alive? I don’t know. I wouldn’t presume to speculate on that, because I don’t have enough information to say. But I do have information to say that this video is a steaming pile of bullshit. Those of you making snarky comments without even so much as looking at the video are really pathetic. Continue putting your blind trust in anonymous ‘experts’ and be on your way. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/67 "2014-08-22T03:01:45Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I haven’t been on the boards in a while - forgot what whimpering pussies most of you guys are. Oh no, I can’t watch that, I’ll be scarred for life! It’s so badly faked. I don’t know why or by whom it was faked and the guy may very well be dead. But it’s obvious to anyone who has half a stomach to watch it. Can’t believe people are buying the bullshit so blindly. I’m not watching a human being in dying in terror as his life is taken from him slowly, brutally and messily. I never have, I never will. If that makes me a pussy, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/68 "2014-08-22T03:03:37Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > In every case, the moment the knife hits the trachea / carotid artery a huge fountain of blood starts gushing forth. In the Foley video he saws into the neck a good 7-8 times before the fade to black and there’s not 1 drop of blood or a visible scratch. Not even the trickling you’d expect to see from a superficial skin trauma. Nothing. And then they cut to a STILL photo of the allegedly beheaded corpse. Why wouldn’t they show it on video? (answer: because it’s fake) Why wouldn’t they show the actual beheading? (answer: because it’s fake) Terrorist beheading videos are nothing new. They’ve been all the rage for some time now. The point of being a terrorist is to terrorize, and showing the ugly violence is a key component of that. And you are _way_ too into this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/69 "2014-08-22T03:12:01Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > And you are _way_ too into this stuff. Ah, so now we’re passing judgment. Anyway it’s a simple medical fact. Ask a doctor or a forensic pathologist what happens when you cut somebody’s throat if you don’t want to take my word for it. I’ll admit to occasionally indulging in a curiosity for the macabre, which I believe just about everyone possesses to some degree. Sites like Best Gore don’t exist just because of me. In fact even I can’t stomach some of the stuff that’s posted on there. Real violence is ugly, it’s gross, and it’s nothing like the way most violence is portrayed in Hollywood movies. But it exists, and that’s a fact. Being curious about what reality looks like is hardly a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/70 "2014-08-22T03:14:26Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > Do what? > > Regards, > -Bouncer- The whole “regards” thing. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/71 "2014-08-22T03:15:21Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Ah, so now we’re passing judgment. Er, yes. > [@](#): > > Anyway it’s a simple medical fact. Ask a doctor or a forensic pathologist what happens when you cut somebody’s throat if you don’t want to take my word for it. Er, no. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/72 "2014-08-22T03:16:59Z")
I don’t think we can blame Rigamarole. He’s clearly lost his head over this. ---
**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 22, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/73 "2014-08-22T03:39:06Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Those of you making snarky comments without even so much as looking at the video are really pathetic. Continue putting your blind trust in anonymous ‘experts’ and be on your way. I’ve seen the video. Protip: _Kill Bill_ is not a documentary. And your comment above is pretty amusing, Mr. anonymous ‘expert’. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/74 "2014-08-22T03:48:19Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Those of you making snarky comments without even so much as looking at the video are really pathetic. Continue putting your blind trust in anonymous ‘experts’ and be on your way. As opposed to anonymous non-experts like you? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/75 "2014-08-22T04:16:23Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Continue putting your blind trust in anonymous ‘experts’ and be on your way. That’s rich. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/76 "2014-08-22T04:39:10Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Real violence is ugly, it’s gross, and it’s nothing like the way most violence is portrayed in Hollywood movies. But it exists, and that’s a fact. Being curious about what reality looks like is hardly a crime. You watch snuff films for their educational content. Got it. And the box of tissues is just in case your allergies flare up, right? ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/77 "2014-08-22T12:40:06Z")
There is no beheading in the video, anyone that watches the video will see that. If you think there’s a beheading in the video you have not watched it. It’s not a snuff video because no snuffing take place. If this video was rated by the MPAA, it would receive a PG13 rating. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/78 "2014-08-22T13:57:10Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > The one thing that does kind of make the Foley one suspect is the way he was so cooperative in reading that bogus statement. I mean, if he knows they’re gonna decapitate him, why be so accommodating? I was actually struck by this myself. It’s not just that he said what they wanted, but he seemed to say it with a lot of conviction. And what I’m wondering is: maybe he said it that way because he actually believed it. This sounds crazy at first thought, but consider the following: [ol] [li]His statement did not so much praise the ISIS group as it criticized the US bombings (& lays the responsibility for his death on those actions). I haven’t seen much of Foley’s political views, but it’s not impossible that he is in fact opposed to such bombings.[/li][li]Leaving aside his preexisting political views, if he was aware that his life depended on the US refraining from taking such action I imagine he would have been rooting heavily against it in his heart, and it’s not unlikely that his attitude about the propriety of such actions might have been heavily influenced as a result.[/li][li]Most significantly, he had been in captivity for some time now, and the ISIS rise to prominence has taken place while he was in captivity. It’s unlikely that he had access to a source of unbiased information, and much or all of what he knew of the current situation WRT ISIS would be what he knew from ISIS themselves. So I could imagine he might have had a view of what’s currently happening that is very very different than that of those who are getting their information from other sources.[/li][/ol] In sum, while Foley would obviously not have been in favor of himself being beheaded by ISIS, and undoubtedly had very different views than ISIS on that particular subject, it seems possible to me that he did in fact feel that the US is ultimately responsible for his death, as he said on the video. Or not. It’s just a possibility. > [@Marley23](#): > > I’m not following. They threatened to kill him, and the U.S. refused to pay the ransom and stop the bombings in response to that threat. How does pretending to kill him make sense? I’m not aware that they threatened to kill him WRT the bombings. He was kidnapped long before the bombings. My assumption was that he was kidnapped purely as a hostage for ransom (either money or captured ISIS people). My assumption is that the negotiations over ransom might have dragged on, but that the ISIS people decided to kill him in response to the bombings. And the idea was that if they distributed a video of this guy being beheaded, then maybe the US would take more seriously the threat to the other hostage that they have, and stop the bombings in response (or possibly that the US government would come under public pressure as a result). All of the above is what I assume is in fact true. What I think is extremely unlikely but theoretically plausible (in that it would serve the aims of ISIS - which is the question I was addressing) is that the video is faked, and the guy is still alive, because all of the above would be accomplished by people thinking the guy was dead. The rationale for actually keeping him alive would be that once the current bombing campaign was headed off, they could wait until the situation dies down and then return to their original intention of using him as a hostage. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/79 "2014-08-22T14:11:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > The whole “regards” thing. Duh. Oh! Well… no. I’ve been doing it since back on the old wildcat and Telnet BBS messaging boards where you had to dial-in. I’ve been doing it on this board since back before it was a paid board. Sooooo… no. You young-uns can just adjust, or foad. Either way your issue is not mine. 🙂 Regards, -Bouncer- ps: Young whippersnappers… muttermutterMORESPANKINGSISAY!..muttermutter. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/80 "2014-08-22T14:46:37Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > All of the above is what I assume is in fact true. What I think is extremely unlikely but theoretically plausible (in that it would serve the aims of ISIS - which is the question I was addressing) is that the video is faked, and the guy is still alive, because all of the above would be accomplished by people thinking the guy was dead. The rationale for actually keeping him alive would be that once the current bombing campaign was headed off, they could wait until the situation dies down and then return to their original intention of using him as a hostage. Okay, but here is the follow-on question. Is ISIS/ISIL known for faking murder scenes for any reason, much less financial gain? Are they known, in any way, for faking their brutality. And the answer seems to be no. They aren’t known for faking anything. Including crucifixion, beheading, mass executions, rape etc etc. None of that is being faked. So why would they go completely out of their way in this case? Because of a ransom they know they aren’t going to get? It makes no sense. His family hasn’t 100 million to ransom him and the US Gov’t wouldn’t let them if they did (how exactly do you transfer 100M without the USG knowing about it, walk into a Hawala with pallets of fifties?). Regards, -Bouncer- [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=3) [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=5)