Terrorists Don't Play by the Rules

Terrorists think that beheading a hostage is shocking. Why? Because it's so up-close and personal. Americans don't like that. We like our violence the old fashioned way: the crackle of gunfire, thunderous explosions, hundreds of faceless, nameless people screaming and running for their lives.

Think about it. The incidents of torture and murder at Abu Ghraib are glossed over. The demise of 10,000 Iraqis doesn't phase us. We casually accept the fact that 1.5 million unborn children are butchered every year right in our own neighborhoods.

But show a helpless American citizen on television and videotape his beheading...well, we just won't stand for it! Don't these barbarians know that there are rules to follow? Killing is only acceptable when it's done in large numbers, from great distances - preferably from behind a machine gun or in the seat of a tank or bomber.

That's how civilized human beings are supposed to kill each other.