Zarqawi Beheads Iraqi Guardsmen in Public

According to an Islamist website, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group said it had beheaded two Iraqi National Guardsmen in broad daylight in Mosul yesterday afternoon. It also indicated that the men murdered were a major and a lieutenant. The authenticity of the message's contents has not been verified.

The change in tactics by the terrorists would seem to indicate that 1) their ability to provide a videotaped production of the beheadings for worldwide distribution has been hindered, 2) they are free to gather a crowd unfettered in the streets of Mosul for the murders, and 3) they believe they can still prevail in the war even though they have lost every battle and skirmish and have seen a dramatic reduction in their forces and resources. And, as long as they believe that the Americans will ultimately cut and run, they will continue fighting.

Tipped by Diggers Realm. Also blogging: In The Bullpen