douglas macarthur-mccain is the first american killed while fighting with the jihadist group, isis. his cousin insists mccain was not a terrorist. >> because my cousin wouldn't support a terrorist group like that, any group like that, you know? he's a very humble, caring man. >> reporter: mccain grew up in chicago and minnesota. he was arrested nine times and converted to islam. he even tweeted about joining isis overseas. syrian rebels backed by the u.s. killed him last weekend. now military surveillance planes are flying over iraq trying to identify which isis member beheaded american journalist james foley. >> i'm afraid just a preview of what they would do to other americans. >> reporter: there was a vigil last night at marquette university. foley was an alum. >> please, jimmy, just promise me you'll wait for us in heaven. >> reporter: president obama told the american legion tuesday foley's death won't be forgotten. >> to anyone who harms our people, it's simple, american does not forget, our reach is long, we are patient, justice will be done. >> reporter: experts think the u.s

or offered any evidence of its claims, but it did release photos of that first american, douglas macarthur mccain, the california man who has become a part of this disturbing phenomenon of americans joining terrorist groups that want to kill americans. let's bring in justice correspondent pamela brown. what are you learning about mccain's life before he became radicalized? >> well, jake, we've been speaking to law enforcement officials and authorities became aware of douglas mccain back in the early 2000s because he was associated with someone who authorities were interested in at that time, but we learned back then that the authorities telling us that there was nothing linking mccain to anything me fairius and we also learned, jake, that it wasn't until after mccain traveled to turkey that he was put on authorities' radar most recently just in the past few months. >> it was just months ago that douglas macarthur mccain began to attract the attention of u.s. intelligence. u.s. law enforcement tells cnn the government was investigating his overseas connection to the brutal isis terror group, but t

. >> john, christine, the american douglas macarthur mccain killed in syria, said to be fighting alongside isis. his family notified by the u.s. government, telling our jim sciutto they had not known that he was in syria fighting as part of the war going on there. u.s. counterterrorism officials say he was one of the americans that they were keeping an eye on, that they were investigating for possibly joining militant groups. and if he had attempted to travel at any point, traperhaps come back to the united states, he would have been subject to additional scrutiny. so what about u.s. air strikes in syria? what about the next step there? well, by all accounts, u.s. reconnaissance flights are flying along the border, staying for now on this side of the iraqi, the iraqi side of the border. but having a look into syria, trying to determine any location of potential isis targets that they can. the real question, of course, is whether president obama will take the next step and order air strikes in syria. but there is some concern at the pentagon about the law of unintended consequences. u.s. ai

go long. >>> douglas macarthur mccain was just one of thousands of westerners who have gone to syriae past few years. they've joined various terror groups. they've also joined some other opposition, more moderate groups to battle the bashar al assad regime. this is a former cia analyst on iraq. she's now with the new america foundation here in washington. tara, thanks very much for joining us. let's talk a little bit about what draws these young americans and british subjects, other europeans, to give up so much and go to turkey and then sneak in to syria, eventually wind up, some of them working for isis or al nusra, maybe some of them have gone with isis into iraq now. what draws these people to do th that? >> surprisingly, in many cases, it's not strong religious ideology. many of these people like the one killed yesterday mccain, they had typical normal average everyday childhoods. something goes wrong, something goes astray. in the same way we see people, you know, individual school shooters or what not, something goes wrong, and then they are recruited by this organization or t

you have an american douglas macarthur mccain caught fighting and dying for isis. to the pentagon, what does a case like this indicate? >> well, again, we can't confirm whether it's true or not, but if it's true, what it reminds us here about is the very real threat of foreign fighters inside isil. we're not the . >>> as we go into this war, i think that's a pretty good chance it will happen. >> it's a tremendous fear. i've heard it from u.s. intelligence officials for months moontsds. when you were in iraq dealing with al qaeda in iraq, the precursor to isis, one thing you didn't face there was americans and europeans in the numbers we see with isis now joining the fight there. how much does that raise this challenge from isis? >> we don't know who they are, all of them and they're able to fly into the united states without getting a visa. this is a tremendous national security challenge to our intelligence agencies and homeland security agencies. >> clearly, some people have gotten through even if they are tracking them. bob, i wonder if i can ask you this, when

. >> do we know if he and the -- this other guy, douglas macarthur mccain, i can't get over that nameat's an iconic american name, did they die in the same battle? >> it's believed they fought in the same battle. it's quite a big battle going on over several days. what's interesting about this battle, it's a battle against isis. douglas mccain, this other american fighting for isis. the groups fighting against isis is an incredible coalition. it includes the free syrian army, which is the moderate rebel group the u.s. supports, but also an al qaeda group. >> but the al nusra front is the one that held theo curtis. >> exactly. and they're all fighting, that entire group fighting against bashar al assad. so it's just an example of how confusing it is, whose side are you on. this is one of the dilemmas that the obama administration is dealing with when they come to the question of military action. who do you help because you're hurting isis and help the free syrian army but also help bashar al assad. >> by giving weapons to the free syrian army, do those weapons end up to al nusra or isi

douglas mccains with jihad in their hearts and western passports in their pockets, certainly you could consider a nightmare, that the u.s. government says is front and center of its counterterrorism efforts. douglas macarthur mccain is believed to be one of two americans who died while fighting shoulder to shoulder with isis, the islamist militants also known as the islamist state. all of this happening days ago in a clash with rival militants in aleppo, syria. light years from mccain's all-american upbringing in the midwest and southern california. yes, midwest, southern california. cnn's dan simon has more on this bizarre story. dan. >> reporter: we've been trying to piece together as much as we know about douglas mccain. we know that most recently, he lived here in san diego and attended a community college seemingly trying to make something of his life. we know he attended a mosque in the area regularly. but how and why he became radicalized at this point we don't know. douglas macarthur mccain's family says they're devastated to learn the 33-year-old father was fighting with the terrorist group isis. >> it's crazy. i don't understand it. i don't even believe this. i'm in shock. like, i don't even know

the other one, douglas macarthur mccain was born and raised in america. this is tied to a mosque in minneapolis in somali communities there. there is concern all the young men being recruited for islamic extremist groups, not only in somalia but entire middle east. it is a serious, serious problem. >> conor powell, thank you very much. we talked talked about stories y joined al-shabaab and joining isis and missing from the minneapolis area. turning to the white house, president obama is weighing expanded us air strikes against ice sighs, going after the terror group in syria. doug mckelway reporting live from the white house. hi, doug. >> reporter: heather, the president may be inching closer whether to launch airstrikes within syria against ice sighs of the white house announced a short while ago the president will meet with his national security team at 4:00 p.m. today in the situation room. vice president joe biden, secretary of state john kerry also participating via secured link. as the president is facing tremendous pressure from his critics emergen

the alleged jihadist name, douglas macarthur mccain. he's a native of minnesota who one friend called him a good person at heart but u.s. officials tell a very different story. they say he traveled to syria to join up with violent militants most likely with a group called the islamic state the same terrorists carved off the head of an american journalist and threatened to do it again. now they are demanding millions of dollars for another american. a 26-year-old aide worker. the group is demanding more than $6.5 million to let her go free. this would be the third american that we know of, anyway, who the islamic state kidnapped. it's already executed the journalist jim foley in a gruesome online video. the killer threatened to murder another american the journalist steven sotloff. his mother, you may have seen recorded a new video for her son's captors begging them to let him live. we'll show it to you unedited. >> i'm sending you this message to you, abu bakr al-baghdadi the head of the islamic state. my son steven is in your hands. st

an american douglas macarthur mccain of san diego was killed over the weekend in a battle with the free syrian army. photos of mccain's passport and body have been seen by nbc news. mccain was one of three foreign he jihadis fighting in that battle. mccain called himself the slave offal afal allah. >> the u.s. military is beginning surveillance flights over syria. the flights are a first step against potential air strikes inside isis borders. a big step. looking for isis targets, president obama addressed this while addressing the american legion in north carolina. he talked about the murder of james foley. >> our mess age to anyone who harms our people is simple, america does not forget, our reach is long, we are patient. justice will be done. we have proved time and time again, we will do what's necessary to capture those who harm americans. >> this as the u.s. nears its 100th air strike against isis on the iraqi side of this conflict. we're expecting a state department briefing any minute now. you're looking at a live picture there where we could learn more. >>> first, let's get righ

this is douglas macarthur mccain said they cannot believe that the man they know for his love of rap music and basketball has died last weekend facing the islamic state group in syria. >> 33-year-old douglas m mcarthur mccain went to san diego for college. it's unclear how he ended up fighting for the islamic state group in syria. he liked rap music and basketball. his uncle reportedly said his nephew became radicalized after converting to the muslim face. a picture shows the flack of the he's lacki islamic state. his family was notified by the state department that he died over the weekend in syria. >> when i see him and here him speak, i didn't think that was really my cousin. that's why i said i felt like he mut must have lost his identify because all of this is not him. >> reporter: dozens have been recruited to fight for the islamic state. >> this is one of the greatest point we have at this time is they could return back to the united states and pose a threat. >> living in the west, i know the depression. >> he is not the first american killed in syria. in may the white house co

melissa: douglas macarthur mccain is not so molly.ve an organization that is able to transcend ethnic backgrounds. >> if i could say one thing he was apparently close friends with troy cast a guard who went to somalia and was killed fighting with al-sabah. al shabaab. >> having been in these high levels of government how would this situation in minneapolis affect the terror alert level? the department of homeland security is not planning to change that any time soon. >> obviously agencies within minneapolis and elsewhere are coordinating with washington. >> csn here is the problem. someone can have an american passport, we can fly to europe, go to turkey and where they are going is from turkey getting across the border into syria to fight. no one at the borders stand in ger iing o is es sneoeinlit, re-ehed ss, an pastorheir onyin othe thatog th middle east and yet they are experienced fighters. the two men who just died fighting isis who were american citizens come back to the united states, go back to fight again and die, we didn't e

similar to what we're hearing about douglas macarthur mccain young man from minnesota. people who join isis-affiliated groups on their own. >> this is a long phenomena. people who have trouble fitting in, who are angry, maybe they've had some run ins with the law. maybe so or 15 years they would have joined a religious consult. in this case, they are joining, in fact, a religion cult and finding it in syria. and it is -- it's not it calls itself islamic state. islam is it's a death cult. they're able to carve out a ministate. they get to go there, kill people, you have the power of life and death over captives. you get to play bad guy for awhile. the world thinks your a terrorist. there is a certain personality type who finds this very appealing. >> to your point, you know, in this case, this young man went to twitter and some of the tweets that he would send out speaks to this desire, as you point out, to be this killer, this character. created in many cases because they feel rejected. mccain left the u.s. for turkey, which is a point of travel for so many of these joi

. >> the white house confirmed douglas macarthur mccain realtime died fighting for the isil. senior u.s. officials said mccain was one of about 100 americans to have taken up arms for the islamic state. multiple sources also said tuesday that the islamic state was holding a 26-year-old female american aid worker for a $6.6 million ransom. meanwhile, president obama has approved aerial surveillance of possible islamic state targets. as officials grapple with how best to respond to the group's threats to attack america. for more, i am joined from washington, d.c. by john mcglocland, the former cia appe director teaching at international studies. mr. mcglocland thank you for joining us. you have written very succinctly on i.s. and you said us lammic state group is a greater threat than al-qaeda was before 9-11. i want to break that down and find out why you say that. let's start with the base. al-qaeda had a safe haven in afghanistan at least until 2001 thanks to being guests of the taliban. why do you say that i s. >> has a better situation? >> well, al-qaeda had that base until

worker, they are skg asking she is not inging she is not identified beyond that. >> a man, douglas macarthur mccain'sy is missing, he was one of 100 americans believed to be fighting in syria's civil war. we are at the state department where officials are tracking mccain's final movements. good morning. >> reporter: good morning and good morning to our viewers in the west. douglas mccain is the first american to die fighting for isis, the white house confirmed his death after u.s. backed rebels found an american passport on the battlefield. douglas macarthur mccain reportedly died in this firefight on the out skirts of the area. while fighting along side isis militants against a free syrian army. that is far from suburb minneapolis where he grew up. a basketball fan who had just minor scrapes with the law, high school friends told cbs news that there was no sign that mccain would be a radical much his plan was to be a rapper. >> he was silva-- he was silly, he was a trickster, class clown, always could make everyone laugh. >> reporter: mccain was drawn in to the local somali community and moved brief

this battle sunday near aleppo, we're learning he could be from the same minnesota town as douglas macarthur mccain. another major development, the u.s. launched new air strikes against isis in northern iraq yesterday. those strikes came on the same day the mother of american journalist sotlov is threatening to kill issued an emotional plea to the leader of isis. >> i ask you to please release my child. as a mother, i ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over. i want what every mother wants, to lives to see her children's children. i plead with you to grant me this. >> nbc news foreign correspondent joins us live, aman, this second american, the state department officially says it's investigating, we're waiting to hear, but the number of americans believed to be fighting with isis is around 70 to 100, is what we're hearing? >> that's correct. in fact, again, we still don't know all the details and circumstances surrounding the second american's deaths, there are some anecdotal reports that he may have died in that same fight where that other american,

this man, 33-year-old douglas macarthur mccain. nbc has seen pictures far too graphic to show of mccain's body with his distinctive tattoos. his u.s. passport was in his pocket when he died. born in illinois he moved with his family to minnesota. he attended cooper high school. a friend described him as a joker, always smiling. after high school, mccain had several run-ins with the law. nine arrests. at $19, orderly conduct, obstruction of justice, six years later. in 2004, mccain converted to islam. his social media postings went from talk of basketball and pizza to islamist propaganda. he wrote the ominous words, they are coming back, soldiers of allah. this spring, mccain left the u.s. for turkey, on june 9th, he wrote an alleged isis member to say, i will be joining you guys soon. >> the ranks of isis include many westerners who are converts to islam. who have no ties to the area, who are just like any american. >> reporter: like thousands of other foreign fighters, mccain made his way from istanbul to the syrian border. and th

. >> reporter: it appears douglas macarthur mccain was not alone. there's report that several militants fighting with isis in syria. the concern -- >> foreign fighters can go over there get radicalized and come home. >> reporter: they believe as many as 100 some joined isis. steven sotloff's mother made a direct appeal to leader. >> as a mother i ask them to be merciful and not punish him that he has no control over. i ask you to use your authority to spare his life. >> reporter: the white house said they're working to bring sotloff home but will not pay ransom. >> it only allows the terrorist organizations to finance their operation and puts others at rick. >> reporter: peter theo curtis is at home and these talking about a different group linked to al qaeda. >> i had no idea so much effort was being expended on me behalf. >> reporter: the u.s. is considering air trikes to hit isis strongholds. but here on capitol hill, congress wants a say in that. tracie potts, nbc news, washington. >>> malaysia and australia are signing a deal to share the cost

and on his facebook page, 33-year-old douglas macarthur mccain hardly seemed to be a jihadist. ran. but the white house confirmed that mccain had been killed in syria while fighting for the brutal terror group isis. in a twitter message earlier this year, mccain who said he converted to islam a decade ago, wrote of his isis warriors, stand strong, we will soon be one. a cousin said mccain lost his way. >> i felt like he may have lost his identity because all of this is not him. >> reporter: an estimated 100 americans have been recruited to fight for jihadist groups in syria, including isis. >> i'm feeling like i'm still dreaming. i'm thinking like i'm in a dream world. >> reporter: earlier this summer, the syrian al qaeda group said an american from florida carried out a suicide bomb attack for them. he left behind this threatening video for fellow americans. >> you think you are safe. you are not safe. >> reporter: as brutal and outrageous as the killing of american journalist james foley was, isis presents even a greater threat to the u.s. according to the former co-chairman o

telling nbc news "it appears to be true that a second american died in the same incident as douglas macarthur mccain. if that is true, it could be part of a troubling trend that puts the u.s. at risk for a possible attack. >> we're trying to find out a lot more, clearly. we know dozens and dozens of americans are potentially becoming radicalized and going over and fighting with groups like isil and that's worrysome enough. but when we talk about the potential immediacy of the threat of isil, that's one of the factors that we're talking about, this idea that foreign fighters could go over there, get radicalized, get equipped, get trained and come back to their home lands whether it's the united states or any other western nation. >> meanwhile, the mother of another u.s. journalist being held hostage is speaking out. shirley sotloff made a passionate plea that held james foley and threatened to murder her son stephen as well. >> since stephen's capture, i've learned a lot about islam. i've learned that islam teaches that no individual should be held responsible for the sins of others. stephen has no c

. >> pam: and american has died fighting for osos issi 33 year-old san diego resident douglas macarthur mccain was killed and syria over the weekend of authorities say he was fighting for the terrorist group known as isis. >> pam: intelligence officials tell cnn they had been watching him for some time. >> reporter: he is an american with the all american named creek but this 33 year-old man from san diego went to fight and die in syria for isis. it was a fight to be headed journalist jiang bali just last week. mccain's family tell cnn they were notified by the state department monday that he was killed over this weekend. >> reporter: his uncle and aunt told me we are devastated and are just as surprised as the country is. >> reporter: mckay was race chris jim but converted to islam several years ago creek police in minnesota tell cnn that mccain had just passed at past run ins with the law and charged with 2003 with the possession of marijuana, and driving on a suspended license. >> reporter: several months ago he told palin members he was traveling to turkey and that was the last baseball of

group most likely the islamic state formally known as isis it was thirty three year old douglas macarthur mccain a regionally from san diego according to an activist linked to the free syrian army which saw his body mccain was among three foreign jihadi fighting with isis who died during the battle u.s. law enforcement and intelligence officials have long expressed concern about foreign fighters joining hard line to harvest in syria as to vary but most suspect the number of fighters with western passports is in the thousands more than one hundred are thought to be americans officials have expressed concern that radicalized foreign fighters could one day import those influences once they return home in fact just last week federal authorities urged law enforcement across the country to be alert for possible attacks inside the u.s. in a joint bulletin the department of homeland security and the f.b.i. said because of the individual lies nature of the radicalization process it is difficult to predict triggers that will contribute to homegrown violent extremists attempting acts of violence they went

over the weekend fighting for isis it says the free syrian army released photos of american douglas macarthur mccain his passport and photos of his body were released and right now the u.s. says it's just a small handful of americans that they believe have taken up the cause and a lot of europeans are actually joining but do you do you think that's an accurate portrayal or do you think there's kind of more more to this or to this the u.s. policy over the last you know thirteen years and maybe even further has created us and them groups and the unfortunate side effect is some people are sympathizing with the u.s. and i think ultimately people are defecting from the u.s. and fighting and certainly not you know the first time this is happened but ultimately this is no way indicative of the american muslim community and i think that's an important point to stress i agree and earlier today at a pentagon briefing when asked about how the u.s. is conducting operations against isis gen kirby said the following where we are authorized to act. from a military perspective. iraq and that's what we're doing but

him on muhammad but he is believed to have been killed in the same firefight that killed douglas macarthur mccain i was joined earlier by john l. esposito a professor of religion and international affairs at georgetown university to discuss the growing trend of american recruitment by isis and how the u.s. will deal with the terror group inside of syria so i first started out by asking him why isis seems to be appealing to westerners in general. well i think that one of these we should get first of all is that isis actually is appealing far more broadly than we really thought for example indonesians chechnya and so who would have thought that it would be already growing in indonesia. and i think in terms of the u.s. . and the and europe. if you think about it it's precisely what al qaida has been trying to do in recent years and particularly targeting use disaffected youth in one way or another disaffected be the first young person who died as a suicide bomber from florida talked about he was raised in a good middle class background family but talked about never really feeling that he fit in. kid

. >> his close friend douglas macarthur mccain was killed this past weekend fighting for isis this weekendmccain were born in 81 two months apart. they grew up in new hope outside of minutneapolis police. they both walked these very halls. >> they look like regular they'high school students nothing that would -- >> 15 years later they are capable of killing. >> i wouldn't have never guessed. >> the fbi says 100 of those that are fighting in isis right now are recruited from here in america. very erie especially when you are standing in front of the high school where twoe of them grew up. the department of justice suing a small town over the rejection. it broke the law when it rejected the islamic center in 2012. the town is 20 miles from where the two american terrorists went to high school. town officials say it's a zoning issue and has nothing to do with religion. >> amocratic faking her louisiana residency. on the statement of candidacy she filed mare a relandrieu. she listed her pair recht's new orleans home another time. the senator partly owned the home with her 8 siblings and that d

that citizen, douglas macarthur mccain killed in action by the syrian rebels, the moderate robls. now as you know, several hostages still in the grips of isis, other militants. in this particular case, josh said he's not sure if the president has seen the video from the mom, shirley sotloff. he's seen it, others have seen it. they're certainly reacting to it. listen. >> she obviously as is evident from the video feels desperate about the safety and well-being of her son and understandably so. and that is why our thoughts and prayers are with mr. sotloff's family at this difficult and trying time. >> now, interesting though that josh earnest ducked a question, a follow-up about whether the u.s. government advised the mom against doing this tape. it's difficult to figure whether or not it helps or hurts the situation to make a direct appeal to isis leaders like this. it could backfire obviously. or it could be something that leads to a breakthrough. josh earnernst not wanting to t about that one. >> what are they saying now, ed? everyone is waiting to hear from the white house, what

citizen douglas macarthur mccain died while fighting in syria.he first known american killed fighting for that group and there could be hundreds more and thousands of europeans joining the group as well. that is dangerous because their passport let them enter the united states very easily. a former spokesman to the united nations and fox news contribut contributor. the good news is they used mccain over there instead of having him come here to do something to americans. he was on the no-fly list, but was that enough? >> not enough. we have to reform the visa process. visas are given in the embassy overseas. but >> are be at their the first and second officers, they are very junior. also very nervous. i have the keys to the united states for all of our embassy across the world. the software, computer system is not very friendly system. with the bosses sign their name on some of these so they take ownership. heather: there is so little accountability for the federal government. this virtually impossible to fire somebody. >> specifically the 9/11 hi

confirms an american citizen die while fighting with isis terrorists in syria. 33-year-old douglas macarthur mccainring a battle with rival groups near cities near aleppo. mccain converted to islam ten years ago and over time became more radicalized. he's not the first american to join forces in syria. u.s. officials estimate there are hundreds. perhaps as more than 100 americans tried to join militant groups there. >> reporter: john, christine, the american douglas mccain killed in syria, said to be fighting alongside isis. his family notified by the u.s. government telling our jim sciutto they had not known he was fighting as part of the war going on there. u.s. counterterrorism officials say he was one of the americans that they were keeping an eye on. that they were investigating for possibly joining militant groups. and if he had attempted to travel at any point, perhaps come back to the united states, he would have been subject to additional scrutiny. so what about u.s. air strikes in syria? what about the next step there? well, by all accounts, u.s. reconnaissance flights are flying along th

this battle sunday near aleppo, we're learning he could be from the same minnesota town as douglas macarthur mccainer major development, the u.s. launched new air strikes against isis in northern iraq yesterday. those strikes came on the same day the mother of american journalist sotlov is threatening to kill issued an emotional plea to the leader of isis. >> i ask you to please release my child. as a mother, i ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over. i want what every mother wants, to lives to see her children's children. i plead with you to grant me this.

. >> they knew about douglas macarthur mccain, the man who died as an isis fighter and now we hear theres another american that died and we don't know his name, but we do know douglas macarthur mccain. it's hard to believe that americans would willingly go over there, join with these isis forces, but he was known. he was known to u.s. intelligence. he was on some sort of watch list. the hundred or so americans are there. do you think the united states knows who they are and they're watching in case they want to leave syria or iraq, go to turkey and get on a plane and try to come back to the united states with their passports? >> for those hundred we do know and there were 200 more that we doan have's handle on. we don't know, best efforts, you can imagine from europe and the united states who how difficult this is to do. >> would you support a decision by president obama to launch strikes against isis targets inside syria? >> i think what the president would have to do is go on national television, come to congress, specifically lay out a strategic plan. yes, i would if that plan include

one of them, this man, a 33-year-old min societyan yudded as douglas macarthur mccain was killed in fwhalths syria last week end. his relatives confirm mccain, a convert to the islam had died. >> they are part of thewell disciplined, well armed military machine whose horrific brutality has made them a feared force. >> the human rights council this week appealed for urgent international, against i.s as widespread atrocat this in regions that have left thousands dead and displaced. >> grave human rights violations are being committed daily by isil and associated armed groups. include targeted killings, forced conversions, abductions, trafficking, slavery, sexual abuse, the destruction of places of religious and cultural significance and the besieging of entire communities because of their ethnic, religious or sectarian affiliation. >> the u.s. has launched recon answer is fights over syria. what else is the white house willing to do, if anything? we are joined by jen sockye spokesperson for the u.s. state department? >> my pleasure. >> first question, we have heard described over and over agai

douglas macarthur mccain was one of them, killed this weekend fighting with isis for control of the city with islamic terror groups in the middle east? >> if you guys only knew how much fun we have over here. this is the real disneyland. you need to come here and join us. take measure in this fun. we walk amongst the lions. we sleep under the moon and the stars. there are lamps and the wind rocks us to sleep. he places so much tranquility and happiness in your heart when you are amongst these people here. we just can't thank him enough. >> the real disneyland. cnn ted rowlands live in minneapolis. you you have more on this video. it was produced specifically for where you are. tell me what that is. whose is meant to see it? >> minneapolis is the hot bed for these terror groups to recruit. recruiting americans. they have been doing it for several years. specifically, they are doing it to this somali population here in the twin cities, which is significant. the person you saw in that video is a minnesotan native. a guy named troy kastagar. he died in 2009 fighting in somalia. he was friend

one american who did so, douglas macarthur mccain was killed fighting for isis, though there are fears of other americans helping isis who have western passports. though back at home there was a celebration over the release of journalist peter theo curtis, who was reunited with his mother in boston today. >> i suddenly remember how good the american people are and what kindness they have in their hearts. to all those people i say a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart. >> reporter: amid intense national security deliberations, the white house now says the president will go to rhode island on friday for a fund-raiser with house democrats. bret? >> on the north lawn, ed henry, thank you. >>> new evidence how far from a jv squad isis has been and not just recently. chief intelligence correspondent katherine harris gets an advance look at new analysis from a trusted source that says isis is definitely not an overnight success. >> the terrorist group isis or isil has taken a systematic approach. the assessment in the ctc sentinel published at west point, an independently and privately

when you hear about this young american, douglas macarthur mccain dying on a battlefield in syria forwonder why. why would anyone join a pack of extremists so violent, so brutal, it beheaded another american, journalist james foley and posted that brutal video online. so we asked cnn's atika shubert to get insight from a pair of young men, two of the foreign fighters in syria. >> reporter: the videotaped killing of james foley wasn't just a message to america. it was also a recruitment video for young men like these. >> my initial reaction personally was that this was a direct -- justified response to the crimes of the u.s. against the islamic state. >> reporter: we have spoken to abu ba car before, one of them british, claiming to be absolute believers in isis' medieval view of the world. do you personally believe in beheading and executions like this and would you actually partake in one? >> i would be more than honored to partake in execution like this. i hope god gives me that chance to do such a thing as the brother did with james foley. whether it be on somebody like james foley

in the meantime, we're learning more about douglas macarthur mccain, how he ended up in syria. mccain went to college in san diego, which is where pamela brown is reporting from this evening. pamela? >> reporter: well, anderson, despite reports from that anti-isis group that a second american was killed in syria, u.s. officials say they are not ready to confirm that. also, we are learning that authorities became aware of douglas mccain back in the early 2000s because of his association with someone they were interested with at that time. but they were not linking mccain to anything nefarious. but in the last couple of months, they became increasingly concerned about mccain learning that he traveled to turkey, the gateway to syria. it was just months ago that douglas mcarthur mccain began to attract the attention of u.s. intelligence. u.s. law enforcement tells cnn the government was investigating his overseas connection to the brutal isis terror group. but the extent of his radical side was not evident to his american family. the 33-year-old american told them just last week tha

douglas macarthur mccain.the fbi says mccain was one of dozens of americans believed to be fighting for islamic militants in syria. meanwhile president obama is weighing whether to green light airstrikes against isis targets in syria. the white house it will not seek prior approval from syria's government. >>> we'll be talking about back to school health issues the next hour and a half. we have all these nurses here from inova children's hospital ready to take i4your calls. the number is 202-895-5560. if you have any back to school health questions, we've heard a lot of great questions you've been asking. i'm talking to melinda womach, a registered nurse. tell me about some of questions. >> we've got a question when the mom is sick, how do we help the child deal with that illness with the sick mother with cancer? >> we had a question about a new diagwith a diabetic 9- year-old. >> what is the answer to that question? >> certainly the school nurse needs to be aware the child is diabetic and diet and exercise is

. >> reporter: douglas macarthur mccain a young american killed while fighting with isis. u.s. officials say they believe he died in syria. he's thought to have been killed in a ballot between rival extremist groups near aleppo according to a human rights group. his uncle telling cnn his death occurred this past weekend. >> it ratchets up concerns. an american killed fighting with isis. this had somebody who become a trained killer. >> they were investigating mccain for some time before his death. he was on a list of americans believed to have joined militant groups and who would be subject to additional scrutiny if they travel. a twitter account believed to be linked to him has one message supporting isis. u.s. officials have told cnn, more than 100 americans have gone to syria to fight with various jihadist group, a 22-year-old from florida blew himself up while fighting with the al qaeda linked group al nusra. u.s. officials believe a handful of americans have fought with isis in iraq and syria. in a recent propaganda video this man identified as abu al trinidadi is referred

. >> john, we have confirmed that a 33-year-old american named douglas macarthur mccain was killed during a fire fight in syria this weekend. what we don't know is why he left his life here in california to fight in syria's ongoing silv civil war. >> at sol point, he left a life in san diego to fight in syria. the obama administration says he died there. if this facebook page is to be believed, the one time community college student liked rap music and was a die hard chicago bulls fan. an uncle reportedly said mccain, who was 33, became radicalized after concerting to islam. a picture posted to this facebook account in 2010 shows the flag of the islamic state group and on twitter, just two months ago, there was this retweet, pray for isis, the old akronic for the islamic state group. he is not the first american killed fighting in syria. in may, the white house confirmed the death of someone who jounld the al noursa saying he carried out a suicide attack in the city of itlet. he was in florida. >> not just the united states government but many western governments are concerned about these

. >> he's an american with an all american name, douglas macarthur mccain. this man from san diego went to fight and die in syria for isis. the terror group u.s. officials now call the gravest of threats. it was, after all an isis fighter who beheaded james foley last week. mccain's family tells us they were told he was killed over the weekend. mccain was raised christian but converted to islam several years ago, police in minnesota tell cnn mccain had past run ins with the law, charged with possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license. several months ago, he told family members he was traveling to turkey, that was the last they saw him. mccain is not the first american to die fighting as a jihadi in syria, he was killed in may, detonating a truck bomb near a syrian military base, in a martyr dom video he's seen tearing up his u.s. passport, and urging others to join the fight. >> you think you have won? you have never won. you will never defeat us. >> he was fighting for an al qaeda tied terror group. mccain is the first american known to have

it appears douglas macarthur mccain was in the country fighting alongside isis. tracie potts joins us live from washington, d.c. we understand his relatives are speaking out? >> right. new details coming from a relative who we got this interview overnight on video, we'll show it to you now. essentially she's saying there is no way her cousin could have been involved. >> reporter: mccain is the first american killed while fighting with the jihadist group, isis. his cousin insists mccain was not a terrorist. >> because my cousin wouldn't support a terrorist group like that. or any group like that, you know. >>> he's a humble, caring man. >> reporter: he grew up in chicago and minnesota, arrested nine times, converted to islam. he tweeted about joining isis overseas. syrian rebelled backed by the u.s. killed him. military planes are flying over iraq, trying to i'd fi which isis member beheaded james foley. >> i'm afraid just a preview of what they would do to other americans. >> reporter: a vigil last night at marquette university, foley was an alum. >> please, jimm

a gentleman by the name of douglas macarthur mccain of california reportedly killed over the weekendhile fighting for isis. what can you tell us about this, and more broughtly, what can you tell us about the number of americans who are traveling overseas to join that fight, to join isis fighters against americans and others in the region? >> well, i can't tell you -- i don't know, i should say, much about the specifics of that particular case. but all you have to do is read the newspaper and members of congress have a little more information about the rise of both american and as well as western citizens going to places in the middle east, or in the region and becoming part of a jihadist world. and becoming radicalized. so all the more reason why we have to pay attention, to not just what happens in syria and iraq, but have to pay attention to efforts here in the united states that lead to radicalization, and then an individual goes across the world and engages in terrorist acts around the world, sometimes, against americans. >> all right, senator bob casey, thank you so much. we app

this news comes just two days after reported on the death of douglas macarthur mccain also killed. both died in the same battle last weekend in syria. tonight you'll hear exclusively here on "hannity" from two men sounding the alarm about home grown terrorism right here on american soil. first we go to conor powell standing by in jerusalem with the details. >> reporter: the family reportedly learned of his death not from u.s. government officials but from a picture of his body sent from rebels in syria. the 29-year-old somali-american was reportedly killed this weekend during a battle with the pro-western free syrian army like the other american killed fighting alongside isis, mohamed was from minnesota and left the u.s. some time in the past few months to join insurgents in iraq and syria. u.s. intelligence officials estimate there are 300 americans fighting right now in the middle east. just some of the more than 12,000 foreign fighters who have flocked to the region. though not all have linked up with isis, some have joined the free syrian army or even the al qaeda affiliate in