We begin with breaking news from syria. The Islamic State group has killed another journalist. Video showing that they killed Stephen Sotloff. It comes week after the Islamic State group said that it killed u. S. Journalist james foley. Josh, what more can you tell us about this developing story . It seems that the strategy as u. S. Airstrikes are becoming more effective on the ground a couple weeks travel the front line dialing with fighters from the iraqi side and the kurdish side. They completely changed the momentum on the ground so the Islamic State is clearly looking for new strategies. So, new strategies like what . Are we talking about more suicidebombings . More i. E. D. Attacks are we talking more killings, targeting journalists and other iraqis in the country . The core group of Islamic State, the foreign fighters are extremely media savvy. And theyre based mostly in syria. They realize the powerful effect of these videos. There might be an unintended consequence, and thats whats happening on the ground here in iraq. These videos are really angering the americans given the political will to washington to support the fight here. Thats not lost on kurdish leaders. Several of them have mentioned them to me in the last several weeks, that they dont mind the effect of these videos are having. Its not just americans. Plenty of iraqis and peshmerga soldier was beheaded this week. But when the washington has the political will to support the fight here it changes the momentum on the ground. The peshmerga had to retreat a couple of months ago were able to retake the villages. They were able to retake the mosul dam, and theyre also to break two days ago the siege. Now that was significant for the humanitarian crisis that was about to happen because theyve been under siege for 70 days. Islamic state stretches clear across the Northern Iraq so that kurdistan no longer effectively borders iraq. But when they took amerli, thats the highway from erbil to baghdad and is a corridor connecting curd stance, iraq and the eastern flank of the Islamic State. The situation on the ground here is definitely improving for the peshmerga and the iraqi fighters. But what theyre worried about is if washington stalls on the decision to continue in the way of heavier weapons and training to use them, they could lose that momentum. Josh, in erbil in Northern Iraq, josh, good to see you. Thank you. The u. S. Government is trying to confirm the videos authenticity. But there is plenty of action to confirm that Stephen Sotloff was killed. How is the Obama Administration reacting to this report. Reporter it afierce that it followed through on the murder of james foley. At the end that have video Stephen Sotloff was shown on camera with a threat that he was next. That apparently now has come to pass. It is a very sadden washington. Officials here. This news broke as the white house was conducting its daily briefing. Josh earnest offered his thoughts and prayer without confirming the authenticity of the video. President obama is now airborne a previously scheduled trip for an european summit for n. A. T. O. And wales. Over at the state department the spokeswoman there jen saki had strong words to this video. Weve seen reports of the reported murder of Stephen Sotloff. If the video is genuine were sickened by this brow tall act of taking the life of another american season. Well provide more information as it becomes available they blame the Obama Administration carrying out these airstrikes as the blame for the attacks. They say there is no decision on the strategy to combat the Islamic State group within syria. The state Department Official said that that policy is still being formulated and a number of Congress Members are emphasizing the need of regional approaches. Mike, what about sotloffs family. Just last week we saw a stirring plea for hisless. Youre absolutely right, tony. That direct plea to the head of the Islamic State group, the self described head of the caliphate by shirley sotloff, the mother of Stephen Sotloff. Lets glitch steve has no control over the actions to the u. S. Government. Is learned that you the caliph can grant leniency. I ask you not to punish my son over matters he has no control over. Now, evidently in spite of that heartfelt plea there is a statement out that says in part the family knows of this horrific tragedy and is grieving privately. They ask for privacy during a very difficult time. Thanks, Mike Viqueira at the white house. We go to analysts filmmaker and friend of Stephen Sotloff and james foley. Matthew, good to have you on the program. All the information you have heard indicates that your friend has been killed. What are your thoughts . Its very difficult. I lost two friends in two weeks to a ruthless organization, and itsits tragic. Ive spoken with the families before. Im sure theyre heartbroken. Had a are your thoughtsit just occurred to ask you this, what are your thoughts about isis, isil, at this point. The cause that theyre fighting for this islamic caliphate. Theyre radical lunatics. They take a path that most muslims dont agree with. Theyve captured people, sold them into slavery. Murdered people. Beheaded people. Its an organization that is out of control and its medieval, really. When is the last time you spent any time with stephen . I had dinner with stephen a few weeks before going to syria. We talked about syria. We talked about james foley, actually. What were your concerns going back in to syria. At this time some journalists had been kidnapped. We were both concerned. Stephen took the risk seriously. He took precautions. Even when you do everything right in syria everything can still go wrong. Two american journalists, friends of yours, were killed while doing their work. Does it feel like open season on journalists in syria, iraq, and elsewhere welcome. Isis does not respect anything. Isil says your friends were called bus of airstrikes. Do you agree the u. S. Targeting isil fighters with airstrikes even as it is being used for as the rationale for killing your two friends . Thats a very difficult question. As an analyst, yes, i agree with the airstrikes. I believe that isil needs to be destroyed. I believe we should stop at nothing to get rid of them short of boots on the ground. But we support the modern opposition, we support the kurds and the air campaign. You are an security analyst and filmmaker, but youre also a man who has taken up arms to fight for a cause you believe in in libya, and you were telling me a moment ago there was a time that you thought about fighting in syria. Certainly. I had intended to fight in syria. Yes, i explored the option, but in the end the situation changed on the ground that made it impossible for me to make the contribution in that way. You have been fighting along side fighters for the free syrian army. Yes. Im clearly assuming. Yes, and if things had worked out that way i would probably be fighting against isis now in addition to the regime. Matthew, its an interesting life youre leading. We thank you for you being here and sharing your thoughts on the death of your friends. Matthew van dyke, International Security analyst and filmmaker, thank you. Thank you. The pentagon said that the u. S. Air carried out a strike targeting an alshabaab leader. Now the pentagon said it was part of a much larger mission. The operation that we conducted we believe is an example of the u. S. Government and our allies and partners commitment to the people and government of somalia to detect, deter, disrupt and defeat violent extremists who threaten the region and those who threaten terrorist attacks from around the world. We more now from mogadishu. In an area not far from the headquarters of alshabaab. Theyve targeted alshabaab leaders. Sources closest to alshabaab who confirm that the airstrikes happened, however, they could not confirm whether their leader was among those targeted. Across Somalia Government forces and peace keepers are on the move. Theyre trying to get as much territory back from alshabaab militias who until now has been controlling huge parts of southern somalia. The u. S. Has been hunting alshabaabs shadowy leader for years now. His death would be a victory for the u. S. socalled war on terror. In the horn of Africa Randall pinkston is here with more on this story. Reporter tony, the u. S. Is offering a bounty for the leader. He rules alshabaab with an iron fist, and has transformed the group from a domestic fighting force into a global threat. Alshabaab has been under threat for more than a year. Fending off strikes and operations about the kenyan army and African Union forces. The group has focused its sources in kenya. The u. S. Retaliated sending navy seals in after alshabaabs leadership. They came up empty. Experts say this most recent strike puts the group on notice. Saalshabaab and other terrorist groups, alqaeda included used a few days before the anniversary to carry out a spectacular attack and feed into the frequency of the media coverage, which is the oxygen for these organizations. The leader is one of alshabaabs founding members. The 37yearold was born in somalia but went to college in pakistan. He and three others formed what we now know as alshabaab i in 2003. He took leadership of the group in 2008. Joining alqaeda and expanding its ambitions. Late last year he consolidated his power by killing some of his main opponents. Without him the group wont be the same. It will most likely outcome is that the organization as we know it will go down to the grave. It might emerge in different form. They have begun interrogating villagers suspected of helping the americans. Theyre committed to defeating alshabaab inside and outside of somalias borders. For five years from 2006 to 2011 alshabaab controlled a huge area of the area. Including mogodishu. Sow nally territory has forced them out of two towns. Randall pinkston for us. Thanks. The Ebola Outbreak is spinning out of control. The head of the agency said that the window to contain it is closing quickly. He is calling for a worldwide effort to stop it. Robert ray with more now from atlanta. Six months after the ebola virus raged africa, it still is not under control. The cdc director said that the Ebola Outbreak in west africa is spiraling out of control. There is a window of opportunity to tamper this down, but that window is closing. We need action now. Reporter he says this is the first time an Ebola Outbreak has spread across many countries. We need financial assistance. We need human resources, doctors, nurses, clinical management. We need measures for infection control. Ebola has killed more than 1500 people this year and the World Health Organization said that there could be as many as 20,000 cases before the outbreak is under control. We thank you, but we need more from you. And we also need those countries that have not come on board yet. The whole world is responsible and accountable to bring the ebola threat under control. Lets do it. Action, action, and action. On safe burials without proper protection and isolation, there is a spread of the virus. The International HealthCommunity Says we cant count on that. There is no time to wait. Instead the cdc is stressing a larger scale of response to combat the ebola virus in west africa. Theyre concerned it could cross more borders and not just on the continent of africa. Another aid worker in liberia has come down with the infection. He is said to be in good spirits and is isolated. Reporting from outside the cdc. Robber ray, atlanta. Spending for the Midterm Election has passed the 1 billion mark and it may grow to four times that. Where is the money going . Thats next with power politics. And ali velshi will tell us why the United States has to constantly fund the organization. And in todays power politics the Midterm Elections are nine weeks away and the latest date spending has surpassed 1 billion. David shuster joins us now with more on this. That is a big number. Reporter the Midterm Election this time around has now newly reached the amount of money analyses say before the november election the figure will be 4 billion which is about three times the 2012 record. Thanks to the Supreme Court loosening spending restrictions the money is pooing in from outside groups and individuals. Most of the money is going towards Senate Political ads. And today there are a slew of new ones. Tom cotton is trying to change the senate seat to th. Mark prior has stayed silent. He has supported leftwing judge who is have opposed his views from the bench. Mark prior is not oppose the boom administration when they put politician head of security. The a track is 100 million. Mitch mcconnell has launched a new attack add accusingally so ing allison lund der green grimes. And targeting jodie earnest in a tight race against bruce braley. Democrats are running this. Joni ernst wants to cut medicare and end its guarantee. Seniors are going to bring thousands more. The lack of compassion bothers me. One of the factor in any election season is whiff of scandal, and many are waiting and watching now in the corruption trial of republican governor bob mcconnell. He and his wife are accused of accepting 177,000 in improper gifts and loans in exchange for promoting a business. The trial revealed the couples marital infidelities. Vice President Joe Biden is assembling the piece of a possible president ial game. Biden spoke yesterday in detroit blasted republicans, and demanded a stop locking opportunity that might help working class americas. Just give them a chance. Once you give americans a chance, they never ever, ever ever let their country down, never. So folks, its time to take back america as we said. And time to change the tax code and time to make sure you get equal share. Biden owns retail politics and fiery speeches in a way that Hillary Clinton does not, but clinton has the money and organization. Senator al franklin former comedian and star of saturday night live, and he usually shies away from the national media. His political style is dead serious. But his timing and deadpan humor emerged. Now, election is 68 days away. Now, i know that many of you have jobs. Many of you have families. Ignore them. Thats the reason why they want him to give national interviews. His timing is perfect. I dont know what joe biden was talking about, but im fired up. Put me in coach. Im ready for that game. Appreciate it. Leaders of n. A. T. O. Member states will be in week to discuss the alliance including the crisis in ukraine. But if a n. A. T. O. Is ever forced into a conflict the u. S. Could end up with that burden and footing that bill. Ali, the ukraine is not a n. A. T. O. Member. Why is the alliance so concerned . A lot of Nato Alliance members who border russia, you know, n. A. T. O. Meets twice a year. We dont pay a lot of attention to it, but it came into being after world war ii. The aim was to prevent soviet expansion. When soviet fell nato let its guard down. N. A. T. O. Leaders were taken back when russia invaded crimea and took it over. There is now talk of staging more military exercises to boost n. A. T. O. s Rapid Response capability. Article 5 of the n. A. T. O. Treaty said that an attack on any member country constitutes as an attack on all countries and theyre compelled to respond and defend each other. You cant build permanent bases that border russia. Now n. A. T. O. Is talking about building a command center in poland and bases that are not permanent but temporary to get forces up there. Now in terms of the money, 73 of n. A. T. O. s collective spending on defense is by the United States. President obama is going to press his fell low n. A. T. O. Leaders to boost their spending defense and pu foot more of that bill. They have been lazy to do it, there has been a real mission for n. A. T. O. But now theyll try to get them to pony up. You know these things, theyre required to spend 2 of their gross domestic product. 24 of the countries dont spend 2 on their own defensive. If you could spend 2 on your own defense you will be able to contribute to n. A. T. O. When needed. 24 of the 28 countries dont hit that 4 threshold. The United States, by far the biggest, more than 4 . Britain at 2. 4 . Estonia, which is a border country with russia, and greece, an all of greeces defense seems to be spent on turkey. Canada spends 1 . If youre canada, youre sitting there, if anything happens in canada the u. S. Will take care of it any way. A lot of these member countries are a little bittheyre not all that worked up about the whole thing. What else are you working on . Generic drugs. Americans save 10 billion a year, but the cost of generics are spike. Well look at why that is happening. Ali velshi righ on Al Jazeera America right after. Heidi zhou castro walks a path between on a path where many dont survive. Well look at who the Islamic State is recruiting, and who is responding to its campaign. The hes almostic state group said it has killed american journalist Stephen Sotloff. The video of sotloffs death has not been confirmed but if it is true there are fears that it will continue to killing journalists that it has captur captured. Reporter we cast our minds back to 2013 that open season almost started then. That summe