CRI听力:US in Dilemma over IS: Analyst

A masked Islamic State militant holding a knife speaks next to man purported to be U.S. journalist James Foley at an unknown location in this still image from an undated video posted on a social media website. Islamic State insurgents released the video on August 19, 2014. [Photo:CFP]

A number of US officials now say they believe a video appearing to show the beheading of an American journalist is authentic.

The posting of the video follows nearly two weeks of U.S. air strikes in a bid to halt the advance of so-called Islamic State in Iraq.

CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.

Reporter:
The video released by Islamic State militants shows, what appears to be, the beheading of American journalist James Foley.

Foley, a freelance photo journalist went missing in Syria nearly two years ago.

US officials have not confirmed the authenticity of the tape.

However, a number of unidentified officials say its their belief the victim in the taped beheading is Foley.

Foley was captured by militants while working as a free-lance reporter in northeastern Syria in late 2012.

In the video, the militant who identifies himself as an Islamic State member, says the journalist's death is the result of the US bombing of Sunni targets in Iraq.

The video also shows another American journalist being held, and threatens his life if the Obama administration continues its airstrikes.

Li Shaoxian, the deputy director of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, says the release of the video is designed to intimidate U.S. forces.

"IS has been pressed hard by U.S. forces. Earlier, backed by the U.S. airstrikes, Iraqi security forces managed to retake the strategic Mosul Dam from IS fighters. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been carrying out airstrikes on IS targets. The group has threatened the U.S. that it will bring the war to U.S soil. It then released the latest video. It is an act of retaliation and intimidation."

However, Li Shaoxian says although it is unlikely the US will end its strikes on militants, the video should serve as a warning.

"Based on what has happened in the past, it is unlikely the U.S. will change its strategy. But this video has sent out alarms. According to the U.S, the popularity of the Islamic State among jihadist groups across the world has already surpassed Al-Qaida. Al-Qaida's Arabian branch and several branches in northern Africa have been reaching out to Islamic States. Meanwhile, the IS also has members in other countries, including the U.S. and U.K. These developments pose a new threat."

U.S. President Barack Obama has said its not for the United States to be a surrogate air force for Baghdad, and that it's up to Iraqis to create their own sustainable peace.

Li Shaoxian suggests the current crisis in Iraq is dilemma for the U.S. in its broader its Middle East policy.

"The current airstrikes are far from enough to take out the Islamic State. To root out the group, the U.S. may have to launch other offensives in Syria, as the headquarters of the IS is based in Syria. But launching offensives on the IS in Syria will mean helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It would go against the U.S.'s current Middle East policy. So the U.S. is now in a dilemma. "

The U.S. forces have carried out dozens of airstrikes on Islamic State targets since the beginning of this month.

Some 1.5 million people have been displaced by the fighting in Iraq since the rapid advance of the Islamic State first began in June.

For CRI, I'm Alexander Aucott .