Was James Foley a Spy?

Last month, we told you about the United States using Human Rights organizations to plot against other countries. The Obama administration sent several undercover Latin teenagers into Cuba to incite political uprising. The whole plan was a catastrophe. It didn’t work. And worse than failing the mission, the US got caught red handed, hiding spies under the guise of humanitarian aid workers.

Less than one month later, the Islamic State published a terrifying video, showing the gruesome beheading of American Journalist, James Foley. The inhumane execution buzzed on the internet and televisions around the world.

On the surface, these two stories seem disconnected. But now, we know that James Foley was ALSO volunteering with the USAID, the same organization that sent spies into Cuba. He also worked in another organization, Teach for America. In Afghanistan, he wrote for the Stars and Stripes magazine, and in Libya, he was captured by Gaddafi’s forces.

From all appearances, Foley was in Syria by his own free will. His family, friends and classmates all talk about his passion for the conflict in the middle east. But could he also have been recruited to publish pro-American propaganda in foreign countries while he was there?

Several other journalists are working in and around Iraq and Syria, and haven’t been captured. Why did ISIS pick Foley? What was their reason for choosing HIM?

Another hooded assassin beheaded a second American journalist, Steven Sotloff, earlier this week. Sotloff spoke several Arab languages and wore a long, Arabic-style beard before his murder. He was also a citizen of Israel. Practicing journalism in these areas is tough enough by itself, but its even riskier if the government believes you might be a spy.

Afghanistan just recently kicked a New York Times reporter out of the country, accusing him of being a spy. It could just be suspicion. Or it could just be that the US government is sending journalists on dangerous missions overseas.

Either way, these are all questions that need to be asked. Certainly sounds like a little bit of investigative journalism is in order.