Wiretap: Murder itself is ISIS goal

 
The gruesome murder of Steven Sotloff may be more about the murder itself than any real political or military objective, writes Dexter Filkins in the New Yorker. The only possible political objective would be to force America into the fight. But Filkins thinks that, in this case, it may be that killing trumps politics. When ISIS forces overran Syrian soldiers recently, they beheaded many of them and crucified two. Filkins writes: “This sounds less like a battle than like some kind of macabre party.”

Writing in the New Republic, Graeme Wood explains the importance of the caliphate to the apocalyptic ISIS leader.

Steven Sotloff and the stories that he told. Via the Atlantic.

Salon’s Joan Walsh writes that as horribly brutal as the ISIS murders of American journalists may be, that doesn’t mean anything has changed in Syria or that America should go to war there.

DNA tests exonerate two men – one on death row – of a 1983 North Carolina murder. The half brothers, both mentally disabled, spent 30 years in prison. Via the New York Times.

In a new book, The Teacher Wars, author Dana Goldstein argues that the teachers have always taken the blame when it comes to education reform. Via The Atlantic.

The law says that lawmakers are supposed to reveal if they are negotiating for a job while a member of Congress. Apparently, that rule doesn’t actually apply. See: Cantor, Eric, late of Congress, now of Wall Street. Via the National Journal.

This may not surprise you, but the November midterms have become an election without a cause. Via Scott Conroy at Real Clear Politics.

Wes Welker is suspended for four games for using an amphetamine. Welker tells the Denver Post that he is “shocked” by the suspension. Via USA Today.

Two former Western Colorado doctors were named in a 51-count indictment last week on charges including conspiracy, health care fraud, money laundering and the unlawful dispensing of controlled substances. Prosecutors say the actions of these men led to a regional spike in drug addictions and overdose. Via the Grand Junction Sentinel.

Pressure’s on: universities’ sexual assault responses have come under scrutiny in recent years, with many outraged over institutional complicity with campus rape. Others, however, now cry that universities are over-compensating. CU Boulder is faced with this dilemma as it tries to figure out what do with tenured philosophy professor David Barnett who was accused of retaliating against a sexual assault victim. Last month, CU paid that female graduate student a $825,000 settlement. Via the Daily Camera.

Hikers stumbled across a massive marijuana grow in the South St. Vrain canyon last week—unbeknownst to the owners of the property. Boulder County law enforcement used a Black Hawk helicopter to airlift an estimated 400 plants out. Just like the good old days! Via the Denver Post.