This is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Good evening, scott is off tonight, im ma ross. Two american journalists abducted by islamic terrorists in syria. 31yearold Steve Sotloff disappeared a year ago. And 45yearold theo curtis was freed over the weekend after nearly two years in captivity is back home. Heres Margaret Brennan. Reporter it had been 22 months since writer Peter Theo Curtis saw his mother. Last night, they were reunited at bostons logan airport. Today, outside his mothers house in cambridge, massachusetts, an emotional circus told reporters how thankful he was to be free. I remember how good the American People are and what kindness they have in their hearts and to all those people i say a huge thank you from my heart, from the bottom of my heart. Reporter curtis was held captive by alnusra, al quaidas official wing in syria, until his release was negotiated sunday. The more extreme terror group mos. I. S. Has also taken american hostages but so far not responded
Being executed in the video. Mr. Sotloff is in an orange jump suit saying hes paying the price for president obamas intervention in iraq. It was obviously scripted. This comes two weeks after the beheading of james foley. In this plea for his life from his mother. As a mother i ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over. I ask you to use your authority to spare his life and to follow the example set by the prophet mohamed who protected people of the book. I want what every mother wants to live to see her childrens children. I plead with you to grant me this. Bobby gaush from quartz. I want to start with you, bobby. This looks like it will go on. This will be a battle of nerves and whatever else in our visceral reality. This is personal between the president of the United States and baghdadi leading the Islamic State. Yes. They have already said they will execute a british prisoner next. They have other prisoners. Its worth remembering here
Deadly terror group isis. Another american recruited by them and killed while fighting with their forces in syria. So how Many Americans are they and what are their goals . Abcs chief investigative correspondent brian ross is back on this case for us again tonight. Brian . Reporter the american citizen reported killed is precisely the sort of isis recruit that authorities have worried would gladly sacrifice himself for his jihad i cause whether there or here. He grew up in minnesota and went to college in san diego. On his facebook page, 33yearold Douglas Mcarthur mccain hardly appeared to be a dangerous jihadist. His likes included pizza hut, the Chicago Bulls and the koran. Tonight the white house confirmed that mccain had been killed in syria bhiwhile fighti for the brutal terror group isis. In a twitter message earlier this year, mccain who converted to islam a decade ago, wrote stand strong, we will soon be one. A cousin said today mccain may have lost his way. I felt like he may
General eric holder meets with all sides and gets a firsthand look by a city shattered by violence and protests. Wolf blitzer is off. Im brianna keilar. You are in the situation room. Captions by vitac www. Vitac. Com were following two breaking stories this hour. Americas top Law Enforcement official is now in ferguson, missouri. Attorney general eric holder has meetings with police and the family of slain teen Michael Brown and hes getting a briefing on the federal investigation into the Fatal Shooting and president obama vowing to seek justice for an american brutally beheaded by isis terrorists as the u. S. Carries a fresh round of air strikes and insurgent targets in iraq and risk sending in more troops. Our guests are standing by with full coverage and we begin with cnn pentagon correspondent, barbara starr. Give us the latest. Brianna, a fresh round of u. S. Airstrikes against isis positions in iraq. The state department asking for 300 more military troops on the ground in baghd
Essentially at this point a nonsis tent border. Defense secretary chuck hagel suggest this isnt going on the an easy confrontation. Theyre beyond a terrorist group. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tract cal military prowess, they are tremendously well funded. This is beyond anything that weve seen. Joining me from Marthas Vineyard and traveling with the president is nbcs kristin welker. Kristin, good to have you back on the program. Give us the latest on this kirby presser. Ronin, thank you for having me back. When asked whether the administration was seriously considering air strikes in syria, rear admiral kirby said this. We continue to assess and monitor isil activities, thats why we put Assessment Team there is to get a good situational awareness. Thats the official line from the administration right now, ronna ronan. But i can tell you, based on my conversations president obama is weighing a range of options. Hes not putting anything off of the table with th