A young American, Nicholas Berg – was beheaded today by brutal murderers, who claimed that it was in revenge for Abu Ghraib. They Said:

“For the mothers and wives of American soldiers, we tell you that we asked the US administration to exchange this hostage with some of the detainees in Abu Ghraib, and they refused.”

“So we tell you that the dignity of the Muslim men and women in Abu Ghraib and others is not redeemed except by blood and souls. You will receive nothing from us but coffin after coffin slaughtered in this way.”

Somehow this war, like all wars, has stripped any veneer of civilization from both sides – leaving each the mirror image of the other.

Both are fighting a righteous war in the name of their God – Allah or Western Style Democracy. Both are abandoning any rules of war. Neither has any concept of the life and dignity of an individual.

The Americans responded to the murder of 4 contractors by killing hundreds in the bombings of Fallujah. Wonder what their respnse would be at this. I hope that they remember that A life for a life leaves the whole world bereaved