[LANMaster]

Sorry, I believe this topic deserves it's own thread.

Video Appears to Show Beheading of American

Rest in peace, Nick Berg.

Link

CAIRO, Egypt — A video posted Tuesday on an Islamic militant Web site showed the beheading of an American civilian in Iraq, and said the execution was carried out by an Al Qaeda affiliated group to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers.

The video showed five men wearing headscarves and black ski masks, standing over a bound man in an orange jumpsuit — similar to a prisoner's uniform — who identified himself as Nick Berg, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday.

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

After reading a statement, the men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" — "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.

Berg's family said Tuesday they knew their son had been decapitated, but didn't know the details of the killing. When told of the video by an Associated Press reporter, Berg's father, Michael, and his two siblings hugged and cried.

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

On the Web site, one of the executioners read a statement:

"For the mothers and wives of American soldiers, we tell you that we offered the U.S. administration to exchange this hostage with some of the detainees in Abu Ghraib and they refused."

"So we tell you that the dignity of the Muslim men and women in Abu Ghraib and others is not redeemed except by blood and souls. You will not receive anything from us but coffins after coffins ... slaughtered in this way."

The video bore the title "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American." It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi — a lieutenant of Usama bin Laden — was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution.

The Web site on which the video was posted is known as a clearing house for Al Qaeda and Islamic extremist groups' statements and tapes. An audiotape purportedly from bin Laden — which the CIA said was probably authentic — appeared on the same Web site last week.

Western officials say al-Zarqawi, whose real name is Ahmad Fadhil al-Khalayleh, is a lieutenant of bin Laden. The United States has offered $10 million for information leading to the capture or killing of al-Zarqawi, saying he is trying to build a network of foreign militants in Iraq to work for Al Qaeda.

In the video, the speaker threatened both President Bush and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

"As for you Bush ... expect severe days. You and your soldiers will regret the day you stepped into the land of Iraq," he said. He described Musharraf as "a traitor agent."

The slaying recalled the kidnapping and videotaped beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 in Pakistan. Four Islamic militants have been convicted of kidnapping Pearl, but seven other suspects — including those who allegedly slit his throat — remain at large.

Suzanne Berg, the mother of the 26-year-old Berg, of West Chester, Pa., said her son was in Iraq as an independent businessman to help rebuild communication antennas. He had been missing since April 9, she said.

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

The U.S. military Tuesday said an American civilian was found dead in Baghdad, but did not release his identity. State Department spokeswoman Susan Pittman said she couldn't release the name of the dead American, but said she not aware of more than one civilian found dead in recent days.

The military said there were signs of trauma to the body. Suzanne Berg said she was told her son's death was violent but did not want to discuss details.

[Infidel_Kastro]

We are the largest, most powerful military power that this world has ever seen, and with it comes great responsibility and restraint, therefore I will not call upon us to blow these MF'ers back to kingdom come. Instead I will respect the fact that our countrymen died trying to help someone else, and I will bow my head in sadness, not only for his family and loved ones, but also for everyone else there that has died.
That being said, I don't want to hear another Goddamend thing about mistreating prisoners. Do you think this appropriate retalition? They were doing this for less reasons in the past. We could behead a prisoner and and videotape it, but that would be criminal, more importantly, we could back it up with artillery, but the people in the video are the ENEMY and are CRIMINALS and more people will rally to defend their ****ing human rights before you admit that they are heathens , thugs, and murderers. I hate these pukes, not Iraqi's, not Muslims, but these specific pukes, and I hope that when we finally track them down, they decided not to go peacefully, because there is nothing finer than bringing criminals to justice via the whole US ARMY!!

[LANMaster]

Well said, IK.

[jackal969k]

IK

[korgul]

Well said IK

[buddhafabio]

well said, i just saw the video it i will not say where i got it as it is graphic was not swift he suffered alot. i hope his killers recieve a swift punishment like the american troops that only humiliated the iraqi prisioners.

[angelize56]

That being said, I don't want to hear another Goddamend thing about mistreating prisoners. Do you think this appropriate retalition? They were doing this for less reasons in the past. We could behead a prisoner and and videotape it, but that would be criminal, more importantly, we could back it up with artillery, but the people in the video are the ENEMY and are CRIMINALS and more people will rally to defend their ****ing human rights before you admit that they are heathens , thugs, and murderers. I hate these pukes, not Iraqi's, not Muslims, but these specific pukes, and I hope that when we finally track them down, they decided not to go peacefully, because there is nothing finer than bringing criminals to justice via the whole US ARMY!!

This is exactly how I wish I could speak here about this matter!! I was sickened to listen to the details of Nick's slaughter on the news tonight! The US is handling the issue of abuse of Iraqi prisoners....but nothing is ever good enough for others who hate the US for every piddly reason they can! IK has the nerve to speak out and say what MANY of us are thinking tonight! Take care. angel

[angelize56]

It just breaks my heart listening to how Nick was murdered so brutally....especially knowing his parents may be listening to the details....just sickening! Right now I can not think with my heart about this matter....these men who did this are NOT human!

[Stoner]

That being said, I don't want to hear another Goddamend thing about mistreating prisoners.

George W Bush couldn't have said it better.
Perhaps we'll be lucky enough to have that enacted as law? _

IK, it's good you stipulate who you want justice for. I do too.


I suggest you not tell anyone to quit discussing the situation. Personally, to you... I don't like crap like that quote .
If you don't want to hear discussion......you can leave any time.
I discuss what ever the hell I want to.


Marlene...

but nothing is ever good enough for others who hate the US for every piddly reason they can!

I truly hope that wasn't directed at me.
I do not hate my country, only the criminals that have directed the current events


Jack

[angelize56]

No Jack! Last I looked you weren't from Iraq! It's not directed at the US....it's directed at those sub-human murderers!!

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by angelize56

No Jack! Last I looked you weren't from Iraq! It's not directed at the US....it's directed at those sub-human murderers!!

Unfortunately, Marlene, some MISTAKENLY see us (US citizens and troops) as no different.

And no, Jack, that wasn't a jab at you either, my friend.

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally Posted by Stoner

George W Bush couldn't have said it better.
Perhaps we'll be lucky enough to have that enacted as law? _

IK, it's good you stipulate who you want justice for. I do too.


I suggest you not tell anyone to quit discussing the situation. Personally, to you... I don't crap like that quote .
If you don't want to hear discussion......you can leave any time.
I discuss what ever the hell I want to.


Marlene...
I truly hope that wasn't directed at me.
I do not hate my country, only the criminals that have directed the current events


Jack

Jack,
You missed my point. I wasn't directing this necessarily at the members here, everyone has their first amendment right, unless you live out of the country, and well, thats not my fault.
Discuss whatever the hell you want to, just be prepared for others to disagree with you, like you are disagreeing with me. My point is that we are so concerned about how we treat others and the worlds perception, that we are forgetting the big picture. This isn't about democracy anymore, this about utter contempt for human life and the destruction of those who blissfully flaunt the murder of a human being.
Quid pro quo.

[angelize56]

How are we all going to feel if a Muslim enters this thread with a and a for this travesty??

[pyritechips]

I belatedly mentioned an American helicopter machine-gunning a wounded, helpless Iraqi in another thread. One response was:

I have seen the video, it was kind of cool, like a video game, and yes, I really am that shallow to make the inference that people dying and a video game are cool.

The same person now is expressing outrage at the video execution of an American. Apparently it's cool only when it's somebody else?

Last year Americans kidnapped a Canadian out of New York and sent him off to Syria to be tortured. Now the U.S. is sanctioning Syria for it's torture practices? such glaring inconsistancies. Does America make up its feelings and policies as it goes along to serve its own needs? American policies are confused and untrustworthy. How can anybody scream outrage when when dubious practices are being committed on both sides?

[Stoner]

Originally Posted by infidel_kast

Jack,
You missed my point. I wasn't directing this necessarily at the members here, everyone has their first amendment right, unless you live out of the country, and well, thats not my fault.
Discuss whatever the hell you want to, just be prepared for others to disagree with you, like you are disagreeing with me. My point is that we are so concerned about how we treat others and the worlds perception, that we are forgetting the big picture. This isn't about democracy anymore, this about utter contempt for human life and the destruction of those who blissfully flaunt the murder of a human being.
Quid pro quo.

Perhaps you have missed some of my posts.......
I have brought up the concept of an ever increasing circle of
violence.
The danger from the prisoner issue in not necessarily the actions of a current terrorist. There is nothing new to his portfolio. The killing of innocents has
often been their trade mark. The danger, and LAN expressed it best, is polarizing the public--- the citizens of Iraq (and the US) into emotional outbursts that rationalize continued violence and with Iraq, conversion of the citizen to terrorist. I just can't emphasize the last issue enough.

This isn't about democracy anymore

many think it never was.

this about utter contempt for human life and the destruction of those who blissfully flaunt the murder of a human being.

no ****e!
And when the world's opinion turns to crap and restricts support over just such issues as torture, who the hell you going to point your finger at and blame.

The big picture.........the world is bigger than the US. We need it's help.
It won't happen by expressing hypocracy.


Jack