keywords: beheadings decapitation iraq head gruesome
text: Iraq Beheadings: Medium Becomes Message (AP) AP - For centuries, it has been one of humanity's most graphic, gruesome ways to end a life: sever the head, home to thoughts, dreams and that most personal of features  #151; the face. Decapitation by hand, with sword or knife, smacks of ugly yesterdays  #151; things the West prefers to think it has left behind.