"We all will say a prayer for Jim Foley," said President Barack Obama during brief remarks at Martha's Vineyard Wednesday on the beheading of journalist Foley by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. "Jim was a journalist, a son, a brother, a friend."

During a 10-minute address in the midst of his summer vacation, a very serious president said the U.S. and its allies would continue to confront the Muslim militants while replacing their nihilism with a sense of hope. 

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ISIS militants Tuesday released a graphic video showing the beheading of American journalist James Foley, sparking international outrage. The IS called the beheading payback for the recent air attacks on their troops across Iraq and at Mosul Dam.

Militants also threatened, and displayed, another American journalist held in Syria, Steven Sotloff. They said he would be killed, should the U.S. not stop attacking them in Iraq.

The Foley beheading video featured a militant with a British accent, which British officials said indicated he could be a former resident of South London. Foley was dressed in an orange jumpsuit evoking memories of captured militants held in captivity by American forces in Iraq who were outfitted in similar jumpsuits.

An estimated 20 journalists are held by the group and other militants in Syria, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. That group includes Austin Tice, a Washington Post freelancer who went missing in August 2012.

Obama called Foley a courageous reporter.

"His murder shocked the conscience of the entire world," Obama said. ISIL has murdered people by the thousands without regard for their religion, Muslim or otherwise, he said.

"ISIL speaks for no religion," he added. "Their ideology is bankrupt."

"ISIL terrifies its neighbors and offer nothing except slavery to their lack of vision," Obama continued. "They will ultimately fail...A group like ISIL has no place in the 21st Century."

Tagsjames foley, President Obama, ISIS, ISIL, Iraq, james foley journalist, journalists