U.S. military success is weakening Islamic state extremists, raising american morale. Islamic state responded by executing an American journalist named, James Foley. At the end of Foley's execution video; they showed another American journalist by the name of Steven Sotloff who could be the next victims in these horrendous executions. The people behind this are a terrorist group in Iraq by the name of Isis. They did this to retaliate U.S. bombings in Iraq, since president Obama authorized airstrikes August 8, 2014. This shows separation of powers, by president Obama being able to authorize airstrikes.