Globe Trot: Calls for military intervention in Iraq are becoming a chorus

IRAQ:Why is the world silent while Christians are being slaughtered in the Middle East and Africa? Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, becomes the second world religious leader after Pope Francis to call for military intervention, saying, “airstrikes alone are not enough to stop this grotesque wave of terrorism.”

The Islamic State has beheaded American journalist James Foley, abducted in Syria in 2012 and held ever since, in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, the group said. IS announced the beheading in a video, and U.S. military personnel have confirmed it is Foley. On Facebook, Foley’s mother Diane posted: “We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people.” Foley was held captive more than 600 days and did not get focused attention from the White House until today, when officials said President Barack Obama was “appalled” by the beheading.

GAZA: Rocket fire from Gaza yesterday broke a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and put an end to talks in Cairo aimed at ending the conflict. Hope for Ishmael is one group delivering much-needed water and other supplies to dislocated Gaza residents. “The people are now living with one hour of electricity per day, no clean running water, and no place to live. One report says that as many as 797 homes were destroyed,” reports agency head Tass Abu Saada (the former driver for Yasser Arafat and author of Once an Arafat Man).

NASAposts daily updates from the International Space Station, where this week the Russians took a spacewalk, the Japanese launched some nanosatellites, and American Reid Wiseman tweeted about all of it. Wiseman’s Twitter feed (with photos), plus posts on Vine, are bringing space to Earth, you might say.

AID: At the CURE Uganda medical facility, aid worker Jess Johns is developing a philosophy for charity and compassion worth emulating:

“It’s in seeing a group of imperfect people, with flawed hearts and limited knowledge, who make the daily decision of difficult obedience and tiresome service in the healing of bodies and souls.”

CORRECTION: U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel did attend a chapel service that preceded burial services for Maj. Gen. Harold Greene, killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 5.

NOTE: No Globe Trot on Friday. Globe Trot returns on Monday.

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