Journalist James Foley, who was executed by Muslim rebels.

In the video of the execution of American journalist James Foley, the Islamic State (IS) soldier dressed in black and spoke English with a British accent, claiming this was retaliation for US airstrikes against IS in

Another American journalist, Steven Sotloff, also appears in the video.

Although IS clearly stated that their purpose in releasing this barbaric image was to respond to the US airstrike, experts who study terrorism and the message of Islamic terrorism believe that the video also has a purpose.

In addition to President Obama,  who is mentioned by name in the video, this message is also aimed at Western leaders, ordinary Muslims intending to fight ISIS, as well as radical Muslim youth

`Clearly this message is aimed at many people, not just President Obama and Western leaders,` The Christian Science Monitor quoted Jerrold Post, professor of political psychology, George Washington University, author.

`This video also aims to recruit new recruits, inviting those who not only enjoy the brutality but are also attracted by the manifestation of leadership and authority,` he commented.

In fact, in the video, the executioner says: `You are no longer fighting an insurgency, we are an Islamic army.`

In yesterday’s speech, President Obama objected to this statement and the message’s influence on Muslim people.

The US President also declared that IS despises human values.

However, according to some experts, IS may consider stimulating the US to issue a quick and strict statement as a victory for this organization.

`Of course Mr. Obama must speak about the terrible incident that just happened, but he is caught in a trap, anything he says can serve their purpose, because it helps them demonstrate their power.`

Dr. Crenshaw has studied the evolution of IS from its roots as Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).

`The logical reason is that the rebels think this action will terrify the Americans. However, I think it will explode more anger than fear,` she said.

Dr. Post agrees with this argument, saying that `hidden beneath the rebels’ reckless actions is a desperate desperation.`

According to Ms. Crenshaw, it is likely that a quarter of IS’s approximately 12,000 affiliates come from Western countries.

`I think we have to think of this as a recruitment video, even though we can hardly understand its appeal,` she said.

Inciting Western intervention

Also discussing the execution of Foley, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted the opinions of a number of former national security agents and anti-terrorism experts, saying that the purpose of the video was to create public outrage.

`IS is trying to provoke the West to intervene in the situation in Iraq and Syria,` said Mr. Clarke Jones, a former national security special agent for counter-terrorism, working at the Australian National University.

Famous Norwegian terrorism expert Thomas Hegghammer agrees with this view and suspects that the attacks on Yazidis, Kurds and the execution of Foley are all part of the rebels’ deliberate provocation strategy.

According to Greg Barton, a terrorism expert at Monash University, IS wants Western people to be angry and put pressure on Western governments to act.

`One of their calculations is to make the Western public support a larger military campaign in Iraq and Syria. When people are angry, they can call on the government to take decisive steps in response.`

Ms. Crenshaw pointed out that in addition to Mr. Sotloff, IS also imprisoned other journalists and aid workers.