Unfair exchange of barbarities

The Gulf News (Dubai) ^ | May 13 | Gulf News Editorial

[weegie]

The beheading of Nick Berg was a truly barbaric act that served no cause except the brutish bloodlust of his executioners. Just when the world's attention was focusing on Washington and the plight of the Iraqi prisoners, this atrocity took the spotlight away from those who are suffering in detention. There is never any justification for taking life in this cold-hearted way. No political purpose will be served and indeed a lot of damage will be done, especially in Iraq. Indeed the act totally alienated the executioners from the Iraqi people.

To say, as these hooded executioners did, that they were acting to avenge the treatment of Iraqi prisoners is nonsense. One brutality does not forgive another. There is justifiable anger at the behaviour of American forces in Iraq but atrocious acts will never give comfort to those who have suffered in detention, nor do anything but add to the despair of the Iraqi people.

[Patriot62]

[FITZ]

To say, as these hooded executioners did, that they were acting to avenge the treatment of Iraqi prisoners is nonsense.

The hooded executioners are likely the same types as are the prisoners --- it makes you understand just a little bit more what it might be like for those prison guards --- young --- 21 years or a little more -- up against some of the most barbaric men the world has seen, in overcrowded, understaffed prisons. The guards were likely doing what they felt they had to do to get and keep control --- one wrong move and the prisoners would get the upper hand and start decapitating them. It's easy enough sitting in a newsroom and condemn the guards --- but you'd have to be in their shoes to understand what they were up against.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Frankly, I believe they would have murdered Nick Berg whether their demands were met or not. Acts of taking innocent lives such as what they did is part of their way of life.

It's absolutely shameful the left winged media in this country and media organs around the world as well as those 5 thugs are trying to draw the comparison between the Iraqi prison scandal and Nick Berg's savage murder. Neither one are even remotely close to resembling one another. This was neither an act of revenge or an act of retaliation, this was an act of WAR.

[DustyMoment]

What a pantload of BS!!! This article attempts to equivocate Mr. Berg's murder with the humiliation that those Iraqi prisoners endured.

The two aren't equal at all and no amount of arabic equivocating will change the fact that, humiliating as their treatment might have been, the Iraqi prisoners are still breathing and in one piece. The same can't be said of Mr. Berg.