I realize that al-Qaeda probably couldn't care less about international sympathy, but don't you think that the beheading of Nick Berg is going to swing that sympathy in the direction of America?

I mean, this act completely eclipses any abuse at Abu Ghraib.

Right at the height of the international outrage toward America because of the release of those photos, the world is suddenly, and quite horrifically, shown a video of an Islamic extremist methodically slicing an innocent (alive and conscious) American's head off.

Granted, there will always be an irrational few who somehow see this as "justified" or somehow the fault of the U.S. But this video is going to make the abuses at Abu Ghraib seem a lot less horrible to the rest of the rational world.