Prospects are grim for latest pair of hostages displayed by ISIS

Islamic State executions becoming more sadistic.

Two men held by the Islamic State are facing a brutal execution if their governments do not quickly make a ransom payment. The terrorists are holding nationals from China and Norway and they are threatening to execute the men if their demands are not met.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Islamic State announced the capture of a Chinese national, said to be Fan Jinghui, 50, a consultant from Beijing. The second victim is Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad, 48 from Oslo. The men appear in Dabiq magazine, the ultra-glossy online propaganda rag of the Islamic State, published in English to proselytize gullible westerners.

The two men are dressed in yellow jumpsuits with the words "for sale" beneath them. A number is printed where people can call to pay the ransom, and under that is the ominous warning, "Note: this is a limited time offer."

Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, has already refused to pay the ransom, explaining that paying the ransom would only encourage the Islamic State to take more hostages. However, she added that her government would do all they can, "Our goal is to get our citizen home."

Chinese officials have not commented on their plans.

The prognosis for both men is grim. The Islamic State certainly executes hostages when demands are not met. Even worse, they find the most sadistic ways to kill, in an effort to keep the public horrified.

A year ago, the Islamic State frequently broadcasted beheadings, however these lost much of their shock value because there were so many. Subsequent efforts to recapture attention have included broadcasting drownings, live burnings, and even men being blown to pieces by high explosives. In one gruesome video, the victims were locked in a car which was shot with a rocket-propelled grenade. The car burst into flames as the bound men writhed inside.

It is unclear how much time the world has to ransom these hostages, but typically the Islamic State will hold prisoners for a few months before executing them.

The likelihood of rescue for these men is essentially zero. Elite American commandos have not even been able to retrieve hostages, despite being well-equipped and well-trained.

The likelihood of a diplomatic solution is also nil. The Islamic State needs money to continue its operations, and ransom payments are one place it can get it. The Islamic State also exports oil, and seizes wealth as it goes. It is unclear who is purchasing Islamic State oil. Donations have been discovered coming from Qatar and it is likely the Islamic State has networks of illicit support across the Middle East. The terrorists also deal in both human and drug trafficking.

The goal of the Islamic State is not to become a nation-state, but rather to become an Islamic Caliphate that makes war with the non-Muslim world. The leadership of the organization believes their destiny is to bring about the Islamic Apocalypse, which requires they conquer northwestern Syria, and the town of Dabiq in particular. It is in that town they believe the final battle will occur. As they are killed off in fighting, the Islamic Apocalypse will begin and the world will end.

This is why peace with the Islamic State is impossible and their reign of terror cannot be ended by any other means except the destruction of their entire network. In the meantime, they will continue to kidnap, terrorize and conquer, in an effort to goad the world into fighting them on their territory.

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