Parents blame Bush for son's execution

financial times ^ | Published: May 12 2004 5:00 | Joshua Chaffin

[CGASMIA68]

Parents blame Bush for son's execution By Joshua Chaffin in Washington Published: May 12 2004 5:00 | Last Updated: May 12 2004 5:00

Parents of a UScontractor executed by Islamic militants in Iraq are blaming the Bush administration for his death, saying that US authorities had contributed to the tragedy by unlawfully detaining their son for nearly two weeks before his disappearance.

Michael Berg claimed yesterday that his son, Nick, was held by US authorities without access to a telephone or lawyer because of suspicions that he was an insurgent or terrorist. By the time he was finally released in early April, according to Mr Berg, the security situation had so deteriorated that it was difficult for him to make his way home.

"That's really what cost my son his life, the fact that the United States government saw fit to keep him in custody for 13 days without any of his due process or civil rights," Mr Berg said.

Nick Berg, a small business owner from Pennsylvania, went to Iraq in December to help rebuild the country's infrastructure. Instead, he became the latest western contractor to have died a grisly death in that pursuit.

His headless body was found on a roadside by US soldiers yesterday. A video from an al-Qaeda-affiliated website depicted his decapitation by a gang of men who claimed to be taking revenge for the abuses committed by US soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison.

The execution drew outraged comments from US leaders. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said those responsible had "no regard for the lives of innocent men, women and children".

Rick Santorum, a Republican senator from Mr Berg's home state, called it "an outrage to the civilised world", and said: "If anyone wants to know what we're fighting and why we're fighting this war on terrorism, this is a very good example of it."

The family's accusation comes as the Bush administration struggles to fend off allegations that it has denied the civil rights of thousands of mostly Arab detainees it is holding in military prisons around the world on suspicion of terrorism.

Mr Berg was apprehended by Iraqi officials near the northern city of Mosul on March 24, according to his father, who claims that he was then interrogated by FBI agents.

Mr Berg was released on April 6, a day after his parents filed a lawsuit in federal court naming defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld as a defendant, and claiming that their son was being unlawfully held. They last heard from him on April 9.

The FBI said it was premature to comment on the case. An official familiar with the case acknowledged that FBI agents had interviewed Mr Berg, but said he was in Iraqi - not American - custody. The official was unable to clarify the legal difference between the two, given the US occupation.

But Mr Berg's father disputed this, saying it was "the FBI", when asked in a radio interview who had detained his son.

"We named Rumsfeld as the responsible person, and I still hold him responsible," Mr Berg said. "It's the whole Patriot Act. It's the whole feeling of this country that rights don't matter any more because there are terrorists about," he added. Additional reporting by Edward Alden

[Howlin]

He was in Iraq with NO JOB.

I'm already sick of these people.

[Texas Eagle]

I'm starting to think there's more to Nick Berg's story than meets the eye. Why was he arrested in the first place?

[Spirited]

In that case what WAS he doing there and was he really one of them? Or an adventurer to sell out to whomever would pay?

I hope this can be truthfully sorted out. With the current understanding of "truth" who will ever know.

[Right_in_Virginia]

We named Rumsfeld as the responsible person, and I still hold him responsible," Mr Berg said.

Well, that didn't take long.

[Paul Atreides]

It sounds as if their son's death is fitting in with their Bush-hatred. Stop using the memory of your son for political fodder.

[CGASMIA68]

Enter, Johnny Cocran?

[dalebert]

Strange. They just lost a son and now they are playing politics with his death.

[tertiary01]

I like how Phil Hendrie explained this just a few minutes ago, fr his parents to blame the Iraqis, it would mean that they would have to admit there is evil in this world and that if there is evil then they would have to engage it and do something about it. By blaming Bush they get to go back to doing what they were doing before this happened which was nothing.

[baltodog]

That's the question I keep asking:

WHY WAS HE ARRESTED IN THE FIRST PLACE???

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"We named Rumsfeld as the responsible person, and I still hold him responsible," Mr Berg said. "

So was Rummy the masked killer or one of the two nervous guys on each end?
They will dishonor their son's memory if they are not careful!

[ZULU]

It sounds like a suit coming.

The people responsible for their son's death were the people who cut off his head - period. Go sue them.

I'm sick and tired of these whinning liberals. Right - WHAT the heck WAS he doing over there in the FIRST place??

[chainsaw]

I have one thing to say about the beheading. Civilian opportunists should not be in a war zone, it could be hazardous to ones health. He was there getting paid by the US Government about $20,000.00 per month. I don't think it was worth it. And his liberal commie father wants to blame Bush.

[VRWC For Truth]

There is already a precedent ... Rachel Corrie's parents.

[stands2reason]

It's the whole Patriot Act.

That's it, it's that dadgummed Patriot Act. Why, before that POS legislation, you could wander about a warzone with impunity. What's this world coming to? (/sarcasm)

[Texas Eagle]

"That's really what cost my son his life, the fact that the United States government saw fit to keep him in custody for 13 days without any of his due process or civil rights," Mr Berg said.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Nick Berg wasn't beheaded while in the custody of the US government was he?

/rhetorically sarcastic question./

[katz]

I've also heard that his father has signed on the ANSWER pledge.

[COEXERJ145]

I bet if someone does investigating of these parents, we'll find out that they're hardcore anti-war/anti-Bush Democraps.

[Burkeman1]

Am I missing something? Why was he being held by the US military? Was he accussed of something?

Regardless. I feel bad for his family. Horrific to find out that his death was on some cheap Islamonut website.

[kjam22]

He was there getting paid by the US Government about $20,000.00 per month.

But I thought only Haliburton was profiting off this war?