COVER.
>> MATT, THANKS.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE INTERVIEW.
>>> WE WANT TO START WITH THE
BREAKING NEWS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA
THIS MORNING ADDRESSING THE
MURDER OF ANOTHER U.S. HOSTAGE
OF ISIS.
THE PRESIDENT CALLING IT
HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE WHILE
VOWING TO DESTROY THE TERROR
GROUP.
NBC'S CHIEF FOREIGN
CORRESPONDENT RICHARD ENGEL IS
IN TURKEY ALONG THE SYRIAN
BORDER.
RICHARD, GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING,
NATALIE.
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT A
VIDEO APPARENTLY SHOWING THE
BEHEADING OF AN AMERICAN
JOURNALIST DOES APPEAR TO BE
GENUINE.
AND THIS JUST ADDS MORE PRESSURE
ON WASHINGTON TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE STILL UNCHALLENGED
ISIS THREAT IN SYRIA.
ON A NATO VISIT IN ESTONIA,
PRESIDENT OBAMA EXPRESSED
OUTRAGE AT THE BEHEADING OF
STEVEN SOTLOFF AND RESOLVE.
>> AMERICANS ARE REPULSED.
WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED.
THEIR HORRIFIC ACTS ONLY UNITE
US AS A COUNTRY TO TAKE THE
FIGHT AGAINST THE TERRORISTS.
THOSE WHO MAKE THE MISTAKE OF
HARMING AMERICANS WILL LEARN
THAT WE WILL NOT FORGET AND THAT
OUR REACH IS LONG AND JUSTICE
WILL BE SERVED.
>> Reporter: IN A VIDEO RELEASED
BY ISIS YESTERDAY, SOTLOFF FACED
HIS DEATH WITH DIGNITY AND
BRAVERY.
A FRIEND SAYS THAT'S HOW HE
LIVED HIS LIFE TOO.
>> IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE FOR
HIM TO CONTINUE TO COVER THE
STORY.
>> Reporter: THE REPORTER NEVER
FLINCHED OR COWERED EVEN AS HE
KNEW THESE WERE HIS FINAL
MOMENTS.
THE TERRORIST SEEMED TO BE THE
SAME WHO EXECUTED JAMES FOLEY.
THE SAME SWAGGER, THE VOICE WITH
WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE SAME
BRITISH ACCENT.
STEVEN SOTLOFF'S MOTHER SHIRLEY
HAD PLEADED FOR MERCY FOR HER
SON.
>> WE WANT TO SEE HIM HOME SAFE
AND SOUND AND TO HUG HIM.
>> Reporter: THE SOTLOFF FAMILY
SAID THEY ARE NOW GRIEVING IN
PRIVATE.
MANY BELIEVE THE U.S. NEEDS TO
ATTACK ISIS IN SYRIA WITHOUT
DELAY.
>> WE CANNOT ALLOW AN ENEMY THIS
DANGEROUS TO HAVE A SAFE HAVEN
ANYWHERE.
>> Reporter: INSTEAD THE
ADMINISTRATION'S FOCUS HAS BEEN
FIGHTING ISIS WITH AIR STRIKES
ACROSS THE BORDER IN IRAQ.
LEAVING ISIS UNCHALLENGED IN
SYRIA.
ISIS HAS THREATENED TO KILL A
BRITISH HOSTAGE NEXT.
AND OVERNIGHT THE WHITE HOUSE
AUTHORIZED 350 MORE AMERICAN
TROOPS TO IRAQ WHERE ISIS ALSO
AS A STRONGHOLD.
NATALIE, WILLIE, BACK TO YOU.