His family had pleaded for his life on the basis that he was a Muslim. But that wasn’t enough this time — he was still in the military of the Great Satan. From AP:
BAGHDAD, Iraq – An Iraqi militant group claimed on a Web site Saturday that it had beheaded a captive U.S. Marine, in what would be the fourth decapitation of a foreign hostage in the region since May.
The group, called the Ansar al-Sunna Army, posted a written statement on an Islamic web site claiming that it had killed Lebanese-born Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun.
“We would like to inform you that the Marine of Lebanese descent has been killed, and you will soon see the movie with your own eyes,” said the statement, signed in the name of the group’s leader, Abu Abdullah al-Hassan bin Mahmoud.