There are reports surfacing today of an apparent videotaping of the beheading of an American hostage by Al Qaeda in response to the prisoner abuse scandal, the tape having been broadcast on Al Jazeera or one of the similar networks. None of this has been substantiated as of yet, but if true it's a solemn turn of events for the U.S. and the rest of the world. It looks to be turning into a war of cruelty and humiliation, not courage and honor, and it's hard to envision how it will ever end.