Illinois U.S. Senator Mark Kirk says the only way to stop ISIS from executing American journalists is for reporters to get out of Iraq. IPR’s Patrick Smith reports.
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria released a video today that they say shows them beheading journalist Steven Sotloff.
The U.S. State Department is working to confirm the video’s authenticity.
Sotloff would be the second American journalist killed by the extremist group in the past two weeks.
Kirk was asked today what it would take to stop the executions.
KIRK: Just encouraging anybody that shows up there to leave so that they are not used as propaganda toys with their own heads.
Kirk says the latest alleged act reinforces ISIS’ barbaric reputation - and he called on President Barack Obama to take swift military action.
KIRK: The president should bomb the hell out of them.
A state department spokeswoman told the Associated Press "a few" Americans are still being held by ISIS.
Kirk says there is little hope for anyone being held captive by the group.