OK first of all lets please not get into a discussion of right or wrong about the Iraq invasion or all the other BS that has been discussed. Lets try to intelligently discuss this thread in terms of the potential impact of those types of videos.
That being said to any thread hijackers.....let's start...
I was on a 400 mile round trip drive today to visit a client and while driving this morning, and upon hearing the news of all the hostages, I was curious as to how long it might be before we start seeing Chechnya style execution videos (i.e. Daniel Pearl) made available.
Well I suppose I got my answer with this poor Italian bloke. My heart goes out to the family of this poor soul and others in captivity.
I have not seen the video but am curious if it is of the same style. It is certain that intel analysts are reviewing such as I type now.
I have seen enough of those types of videos and they are certainly a gruesome sight to behold. Not for the faint of heart. I don't believe the burned bodies of the Blackwell boys gave the insurgency the sufficient media image for which they were searching or intending. However, even these types of execution videos, although horrible, are rather "avant-garde" .
The recent behavior of the insurgents seems to indicate that professional type Jihad Johnnies (full-time tangos) are now substantially operating in the area. The developing MO (method of operation) will certainly begin to paint an interesting picture of the new arrivals to the scene in Iraq.
I am not saying that they recently arrived to Iraq, but most likely were infiltrating for some time. I am talking about a new arrival to the scene so to speak.