Pa. family angry with American government over son's brutal death

pennlive ^ | 5/11/2004, 2:34 p.m. ET | By JASON STRAZIUSO

[Petronski]

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — The family of an American civilian shown beheaded on an Islamic militant Web site huddled in in tears Tuesday after learning of the existence of the graphic videotape.

The video showed Nick Berg, 26, in a staged execution carried out by an al-Qaida affiliated group. The video said the killing was to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers.

"My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Suzanne," the man said on the video before being killed. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sara. I live in ... Philadelphia."

Berg's family said U.S. State Department officials on Monday had told them Berg was decapitated. The family, though, had wanted that information to remain private.

When told about news of the Web site Nick Berg's father, brother and sister, collapsed to the ground in a tearful hug in their front yard.

"I knew he was decapitated before," said the father, Michael Berg. "That manner is preferable to a long and torturous death. But I didn't want it to become public."

Michael Berg lashed out at the U.S. military and Bush administration, saying his son might still be alive had he not been detained by U.S. officials in Iraq without being charged and without access to a lawyer.

Nick Berg, a small telecommunications business owner, spoke to his parents on March 24 and told them he would return home on March 30. But Berg was detained by Iraqi police at a checkpoint in Mosul on March 24. He was turned over to U.S. officials and detained for 13 days.

His father, Michael, said his son wasn't allowed to make phone calls or contact a lawyer.

FBI agents visited Berg's parents in West Chester on March 31 and told the family they were trying to confirm their son's identity. On April 5, the Bergs filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia, contending that their son was being held illegally by the U.S. military. The next day Berg was released. He told his parents he hadn't been mistreated.

Michael Berg said he blamed the U.S. government for creating circumstances that led to his son's death. He said if his son hadn't been detained for so long, he might have been able to leave the country before the violence worsened.

"I think a lot of people are fed up with the lack of civil rights this thing has caused," he said. "I don't think this administration is committed to democracy."

The Bergs last heard from their son April 9, when he said he would come home by way of Jordan.

Berg had traveled several times to Third World countries to help spread technology, his family said. He had previously traveled to Kenya and Ghana, where they said he had purchased a $900 brick-making press for a poor village, the family said.

Berg's mother, Suzanne Berg, said her son was in Iraq to help rebuild communication antennas.

"He had this idea that he could help rebuild the infrastructure," she said.

Michael Berg described himself as fervently anti-war, but said his son disagreed with him.

"He was a Bush supporter," Berg said. "He looked at it as bringing democracy to a country that didn't have it."

Suzanne Berg said she was told her son's body would be transported to Kuwait and then to Dover, Del. She said the family had been trying for weeks to learn where their son was but that federal officials had not been helpful.

"I went through this with them for weeks," she said. "I basically ended up doing most of the investigating myself."

[Petronski]

Hmmmm.

[Petronski]

Michael Berg described himself as fervently anti-war, but said his son disagreed with him.

"He was a Bush supporter," Berg said. "He looked at it as bringing democracy to a country that didn't have it.

[Petronski]

Over here.

[Larry Lucido]

As usual, it's Bush's fault.

[drc43]

DNC Fax received. Didn't take long.

[Sir Valentino]

Michael Berg described himself as fervently anti-war

In other words, there is *NO* reason to believe *ANYTHING* this scumbag says.

[eyespysomething]

His dad worked with ANSWER

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1092851/posts

HERE IS THE ENEMY -- they have posted their names
A.N.S.W.E.R. | 3-7-04 | dfu


Posted on 03/07/2004 10:02:01 PM EST by doug from upland


Here you are, FReepers. Here is the enemy. Working in conjunction with A.N.S.W.E.R., they have given us their names.


How about this one --- Jameel Rashid, U.S. Coast Guard, Portsmouth, VA


Well, sailor. I guess it is time for me to call your commanding officer and see what he thinks about this.

---

MARCH 20, 2004


GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION

As of Saturday, February 28, the March 20 Call to Action has received over 2,000 endorsements. Below is a partial listing. Click here to endorse.


Call signed by (partial listing):

Michael S. Berg, Teacher, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, Inc.,
West Chester, PA

[dirtboy]

Michael Berg described himself as fervently anti-war, but said his son disagreed with him.

And, like a typical anti-war type, Berg blames the Bush Admin instead of the Islamifascists who killed his son. And that's why the Islamifascists think they can win this war - because there are so many like Berg who will blame everyone but the terrorists.

[BushisTheMan]

DUers are saying it was the CIA's fault.

[csvset]

But Berg was detained by Iraqi police at a checkpoint in Mosul on March 24. He was turned over to U.S. officials and detained for 13 days.

13 days?

[cripplecreek]

Shepard Smith just read a VERY detailed account of their sons death.

[adam_az]

As if Muslim terrorist pieces of crap hadn't been executing and beheading Americans BEFORE the middle of last week....

I am very saddened for the man who was killed.... but feel nothing but revulsion and disgust for his father, whose face I would spit on if I had the opportunity.

[Mister Baredog]

"He was a Bush supporter," Berg said. "He looked at it as bringing democracy to a country that didn't have it.


Sort of says it all. The family should send Dan Rather a thank you card.

[bmwcyle]

How could you blame the towel heads that hate America? /sarcasm

[Petronski]

General interest ping.

[AntiGuv]

[cvq3842]

Everything is Bush's fault. I didn't know he was so good with a sword.

[glock rocks]

Michael Berg described himself as fervently anti-war, but said his son disagreed with him.

This lawsuit smacks of horsey sauce.

[dead]

Michael Berg lashed out at the U.S. military and Bush administration, saying his son might still be alive had he not been detained by U.S. officials in Iraq without being charged and without access to a lawyer.

Apparently, his son understood that he was no longer in the United States, but in a hostile war zone.

His brains did not come from his paternal genes.