Father of Executed American Blasts Bush, Media

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | June 29, 2004 | Kate Holton

[Max Combined]

LONDON (Reuters) - The father of an American civilian beheaded in Iraq (news - web sites) accused President Bush (news - web sites) and the U.S. media Tuesday of ignoring the "horrible face of war."

"People like George Bush and (U.S. Defense Secretary) Donald Rumsfeld (news - web sites) don't see the pain that people have to bear -- they don't know what it feels like to have your guts ripped out," Michael Berg told a news conference.

The decapitated body of Berg's son Nick was found by a roadside in Baghdad and a grisly video of his beheading was posted on an Islamist Web site in May.

"What I'm trying to do is show to the American people and the British people ... that war has a wretchedly horrible face," said Berg's father.

The elder Berg was in London to speak at a demonstration against the foreign troop presence in Iraq Wednesday, which had been scheduled to coincide with the planned U.S. transfer of power to the Iraqi people.

Nick Berg, 26, traveled to Iraq several times looking for work in the reconstruction effort before going missing on April 9.

"He thought he was supporting the Iraqi people and the Bush administration by going over there, not with a gun but with his engineering tools," Michael Berg said.

Bush and the American media have ignored the "true horrors," added Berg senior, who has blamed Bush and Rumsfeld for his son's death in previous interviews. He said he believed anti-war sentiment was now very strong in the United States.

"There are 11,000 plus Iraqi citizens that are dead and each one's family is as affected as I was, but the American media doesn't cover these people. It doesn't cover the people who are suffering the most."

Nick Berg was one of dozens of foreigners kidnapped in early April as U.S. forces launched an offensive on the restive city of Falluja, west of Baghdad.

He was believed to have been beheaded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, an al Qaeda supporter.

Since his death, militants have also beheaded U.S. hostage Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia and South Korean Kim Sun-il in Iraq. All three men were videotaped wearing orange jump suits similar to those worn by prisoners in U.S. detention facilities like Guantanamo Bay.

"This is not a game that people in Washington get to play," Michael Berg said. "It affects people the way it's affected me and my family and the families of Paul Johnson, Kim Sun-il and the thousands of Iraqis."

"Observing someone's pain just makes you think just how can they (Bush and Blair) possibly do this. There isn't enough money in the world that could ever make this worthwhile."

[aculeus]

If your son was beheaded by some heartless nazi would you still toe the line?

Actually my son was murdered. I have hatred for those who did it but not for anyone who was not responsible.

[rockrr]

Why is this still being played?
The guy was a major-league douche bag BEFORE his son got murdered BY IRAQI TERRORISTS, now he is a grief-stricken major-league douche bag.
So?

[potlatch]

"What I'm trying to do is show to the American people and the British people ... that war has a wretchedly horrible face," said Berg's father.

All wars are horrible and Bergs son was there to promote his business, supposedly, perhaps even helping Michael Moore. God rest his soul.

[bluerose]

"That's why all Americans in Iraq need to be armed to the teeth, Iraq is no place for unarmed white men.

" Please send Michael Moore, Please send Michael Moore.....

[soccermom]

I knew the father was a liberal activist, but wasn't sure about the son. There were conflicting reports. I thought it was odd that he was investigated for having terrorist e-mails sent from him laptop.

[Fred Nerks]

Thanks. The medical profession understands this phenomenon. The relatives of an auto-accident victim often irrationally blame the vehicle's manufacturer...they claim, for example, that speeding isn't the cause of a collision, it's because the vehicle is designed to go too fast...reasonable people understand a painful loss such as the death of an offspring requires the parent to find something/someone to blame. It's part of the grieving process. (Prolonged if the parent also feels guilt.) The father's grief/guilt is being exploited - and he, by the sound of it, is trying his best to justify something he will never forgive himself for; it was his radical political bent that led his son to place himself in harm's way.
Mr Berg will never shut up. He'll go to his grave before he admits that 'the cause of many an accident is the nut behind the wheel.'

[soccermom]

Thanks. I knew something about the situation was odd....

[nopardons]

The Bergs...ALL of the Bergs are "fishy".

It's a long slog,but I highly recommend that very long thread about them and the ties they have to smarmy people.We only have the father's word,that Nick liked President Bush.This could be some sort of "cover" and Nick can't speak from the grave.

[soccermom]

Actually, parents blame the wrong people all the time. I'd still give him a pass for now, but if it turns out he's using his son's death for politics he is beneath contempt.

[mhking]

Isn't Michael Berg's fifteen minutes over already?

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[prairiebreeze]

ANSWER (of which Berg is associated and maybe even elevated to Grand Poobah now or something) has lots of events planned for this sovereignty transfer date. Of course, they're late now.......

Pretty sick to desecrate the memory of your loved one for political agenda.

Prairie

[Militiaman7]

Here in the US yes, but he thinks he gets overtime, overthere.

[Deb]

Actually, the elder Berg was a screaming ANSWER (pro-North Korean, Marxist) before his son was murdered by members of the Religion of Peace. He is using his son's death as currency to buy credibility in the press so he can trash the war and GW. It's the worst kind of opportunism.

There's a special place in Hell for professional grievers like Michael Berg and the "Jersey Girls", who use the death of their loved ones for politics.

[Smartass]

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[soccermom]

Well, it is a well-published fact that liberal activists are instructed to feign support for Bush. Thanks --- I'll check out the link. Regardless, no one deserves that fate. It would be ironic, though.

[potlatch]

LOl, I hope that was a 'copy and paste' or you've been busy awhile!!

[weegee]

Michael Berg should denounce Michael Moore. Mr. Moore has denied that there are terrorists in Iraq, said that they are not "the enemy" and essentially said that the Iraqis have every right to kill the Americans who go over there (that would include the "war profiteering" contractors).

[Nita Nupress]

Go straight to the index on that thread first. It'll save you a lot of reading.

[soccermom]

thanks

[lainde]

bttt