the intended effect of this action is actually quite certain.
to instill terror.

the goal along with that is to delay, or discourage reconstruction
in Iraq, by creating fear and instability. This will certainly make people think twice before working there. In the same way that the bombings of the UN headquarters did last year, and the bombings of the Shiites during the religious festival -

although the people who were against the war, are even more against it. And those who supported it use this to show the inhumanity of the enemy.

interesting that Hizbollah, condemned the execution, not only because it doesnt do much to advance the extreme Islamist cause, but the timing of it takes world attention away from the abuses in Abu Ghraib prison.

(which I might add does damage the moral grounds behind the invasion, so to speak the last leg it had to stand on, after the wmds) On the other hand the abuse differs from Saddams 50 daily executions at Abu Ghraib, in orders of magnitude. ANd every country in the area without exception has much worse psyhological and physical torture routinely practiced in ints prisons. A fact rarely mentioned in AL Jazeera.

ironic too, that the methods are to use the tools of globalism against itself - digital cameras and the internet. (as were airliners
and skyscrapers in 911)