Fair enough.
The reason I said what I did is because most leftists (as 80% of journalists are) have a little "blame America first" in them. That is not a personal slam on your friend's son, particularly since you don't know what his politics were, that is a general observation about leftists.
I do know that he was killed because he was an American, and a Catholic.
That is the bottom line.
He was also likely severely abused and brainwashed for the two years he was held captive prior to being killed.
He didn’t just blame America. He blamed his own brother for his beheading. You’ll never convince me he believed that, no matter what his politics may have been. I can think of some horrible things that could have made him say those things, but liberalism and Stockholm Syndrome wouldn’t do it.
FWIW, when James Foley was held captive in Libya, he prayed the rosary on a daily basis:
Go to 57:45 through 58:20 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3SKu0M_g_4