Family of Beheaded U.S. Man Releases Statement

yahoo news ^ | 5 11 04 | reuters

[freepatriot32]

frame grab taken from web site video footage May 11, 2004, shows a man, who identified himself as Nick Berg of Philadelphia (C) seated in front of his five masked captors moments before he was executed. Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq beheaded an American civilian and vowed more killings in revenge for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, an Islamist Web site said on Tuesday. After one of the masked men read out a statement, they pushed Berg to the floor and shouted 'God is greatest' above his screams as one of them sawed his head off with a large knife then held it aloft for the camera. (Reuters Tv/Reuters)

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) - The family of Nick Berg, the 26-year-old American civilian beheaded in Iraq (news - web sites), said on Tuesday they were devastated by his death.

In a statement read on the lawn of the Berg family's home in West Chester, Pennsylvania, 15 miles west of Philadelphia, neighbor and friend John Hauser described Nick Berg as "a great kid."

"The Berg family is devastated by this loss," the statement said. "They want to extend their sympathy to other families who have also suffered. They are asking the army to expedite the release of Nick's body so they can make arrangements and put this behind them."

Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq beheaded Berg and vowed more killings in revenge for the "Satanic degradation" of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of U.S. troops, an Islamist Web site said on Tuesday.

[clamper1797]

BTT

[MineralMan]

"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. "

What's this about? Why was he detained and held? I'm not blaming anyone about anything, but I'd sure like to know the answer to this.

[weegee]

CBS isn't the only one running images. The Daily Mirror ran FAKE photos of British soldiers urinating on prisoners and the arab press ran front page photos that came from porn sites.

The arab world has seen more images (many fake) that Americans have not seen. I'll blame the media for this.

[Integrityrocks]

You must be in a dream world if you think that CBS aired these pictures for anything more than ratings and MONEY. They could care less about lives that will be lost - that just boosts their ratings more. Like I said. The men that committed the crime are going to answer for the crime. What about the participation of CBS? You actually believe in a time of war that the media should have unbridled freedom to put anything they get their hands on in front of the world? That is treason and anyone who says that CBS is not to blame for this mans beheading is living in wonderland.

[skeeter]

Allah, eat sh*t.

[weegee]

BUMP

[Williams]

I won't criticize them for being angry about the whole being detained thing. They view it as a govt snafu that contributed to his death. But I have not heard a syllable of criticism for those who cut off their son's head, and that is somewhat bizarre. Frankly, the cause and effect between being detained and then being taken hostage by Al Queda after release is tenuous at best. We may be witnessing the horrifying extreme to which leftism takes people. Excusing the murder of their own son by terrorists and blaming the U.S. government.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Part of that depends on how much of this video makes it into the public eye."

You've answered your own question; the video will not be allowed in the public eye. Only American errors are shown in the full light of day.

[GaltMeister]

There is nothing to be afraid of. Understand. The terrorists filmed Nick Berg's murder to further weaken the will of the American people. With the recent release of events at the Abu Ghraib prison, the timing of this horrific act is something everyone should witness.

Well put, RM. "Filled with a terrible resolve" comes to mind. As 9-11 fades to the foggy past in most peoples minds, these savages demonstrate loudly and publicly our justification in removing them from the face of this earth.

[Hollywoodghost]

Someone should burn the prison to the ground--with the prisoners locked inside.

[k2blader]

That is indeed strange...

[Rummyfan]

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.

So what was this all about? Why was he detained? Was this man an independent contractor?

[Travis McGee]

I wonder if CBS will show any of the video? They'll probably just briefly show the antiseptic still of Berg kneeling in front of the five animals.

[bayourod]

"Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq beheaded Berg and vowed more killings... "

750 American soldiers have died in Iraq in the last year. But no Americans have died in the U.S. from terrorists attacks during that time. No American policemen have been killed by terrorists during that time. No American buildings, bridges, dams, hospitals, utilities, trains, refineries, etc.. have been bombed by terrorists during the last year.

The pain suffered by Nick Berg's family and the families of the 750 soldiers is a heavy enough burden for all of us to share, but it could be much worse if we weren't taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq.

There can be no peace until all of the islamofacists religious leaders all eliminated.

[Williams]

Probably not, but for all we know he may have been CIA. It is odd that he was going to very chaotic places to help rebuild communications. Maybe he was a truly idealistic young man.

[hershey]

The Bergs don't have a clue, God help them. They're allowing themselves to be used by people who don't give a damn that their son was hideously murdered by fiends, except as fodder for the RAT pres. campaign. Really sad. Mr. Berg is doubtless one of those people who line up outside prisons with lighted candles when a killer is going to meet his Maker in the big prison in the sky. He's focusing on blaming the US because not only has he lost his beloved son, but if he looked in the mirror, he'd see that his mistaken beliefs sent his son into harms' way. Let's hope and pray that he comes to his senses.

[Keith]

bingo. You win the prize kewpie doll for today. Count on it.

[antiRepublicrat]

What's this about? Why was he detained and held? I'm not blaming anyone about anything, but I'd sure like to know the answer to this.

Me too. He was supposed to have already been safe at home by the time he was abducted.

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

"If I were the Berg's, I would be filing a wrongful death suit against CBS, and I would open the bidding at about $300 Million."

The Berg's have already sued the U.S. Government in Federal Court. They likely will soon be guests on CBS's 60 Minutes, not to mention appearing with the Kerry campaign circus(sp).

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

None of those middle easterners lives are worth saving,to hell with all of them!I now think it is perfectly okay as to what happened to those Iraqi prisoners!Whatever it takes to win.