What's the deal with all these beheadings? Most of them are coming out of Iraq, but the concept itself seems popular among all terrorist organizations. Why beheading? Are they looking for some kind of gratuitious form of vulgar aggression? I don't understand what is their motivation behind this kind of violent display.

I think I see where they are going with these actions. They think, as erroneous as it is proving to be, that by randomly executing innocent civilians, that they can force remote governments to do what they want. I have two problems with this logic, and the continuing use of it.

a) its not working
b) its too extreme

Its not working. They keep beheading people they pull of the street, and nobody is evacuating the country. All that's happening is poor, innocent people, that committed no crime beyond being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, are losing their heads. Fine, if you think it will work, chop off a couple heads. But, after doing that, if you're not getting results, I really think logic dictates that you try another approach.

Which brings me to my second point. Its far too extreme a thing to do. Nobody is going to act the way you want them to, based on the threat. The threat is so far beyond what any rational person could concieve doing, that its not really a valid threat. No one acutally BELIEVES you'll do it, so they don't take action to halt the behaviour. Then, you chop off the innocent person's head, thus proving your point and validating it as a threat. Now you've created a new problem for yourself.

Once you've cut off the head, any sense of duty a government might feel, to prevent other beheadings, is washed away by the revulsion a rational person feels at having witnessed such a shocking behavior. No rational person will concede the point to you, and give in to the demand to prevent beheadings. Instead it prompts outrage, and a desire for swift and brutal retribution.

So you're end up screwed. You can't threaten beheading, and have people give in to your demands, because you're commitment isn't believed. You can't behead someone and force anyone to act in any way besides out of anger or a sense of retribution. So really, what is this beheading nonsense accomplishing?