Pa. family angry with American government over son's brutal death

pennlive ^ | 5/11/2004, 2:34 p.m. ET | By JASON STRAZIUSO

[Petronski]

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — The family of an American civilian shown beheaded on an Islamic militant Web site huddled in in tears Tuesday after learning of the existence of the graphic videotape.

The video showed Nick Berg, 26, in a staged execution carried out by an al-Qaida affiliated group. The video said the killing was to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers.

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

Berg's family said U.S. State Department officials on Monday had told them Berg was decapitated. The family, though, had wanted that information to remain private.

When told about news of the Web site Nick Berg's father, brother and sister, collapsed to the ground in a tearful hug in their front yard.

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

Michael Berg lashed out at the U.S. military and Bush administration, saying his son might still be alive had he not been detained by U.S. officials in Iraq without being charged and without access to a lawyer.

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.

His father, Michael, said his son wasn't allowed to make phone calls or contact a lawyer.

FBI agents visited Berg's parents in West Chester on March 31 and told the family they were trying to confirm their son's identity. On April 5, the Bergs filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia, contending that their son was being held illegally by the U.S. military. The next day Berg was released. He told his parents he hadn't been mistreated.

Michael Berg said he blamed the U.S. government for creating circumstances that led to his son's death. He said if his son hadn't been detained for so long, he might have been able to leave the country before the violence worsened.

"I think a lot of people are fed up with the lack of civil rights this thing has caused," he said. "I don't think this administration is committed to democracy."

The Bergs last heard from their son April 9, when he said he would come home by way of Jordan.

Berg had traveled several times to Third World countries to help spread technology, his family said. He had previously traveled to Kenya and Ghana, where they said he had purchased a $900 brick-making press for a poor village, the family said.

Berg's mother, Suzanne Berg, said her son was in Iraq to help rebuild communication antennas.

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

Michael Berg described himself as fervently anti-war, but said his son disagreed with him.

"He was a Bush supporter," Berg said. "He looked at it as bringing democracy to a country that didn't have it."

Suzanne Berg said she was told her son's body would be transported to Kuwait and then to Dover, Del. She said the family had been trying for weeks to learn where their son was but that federal officials had not been helpful.

"I went through this with them for weeks," she said. "I basically ended up doing most of the investigating myself."

[Anti-Bubba182]

Nick Berg's Father and International A.N.S.W.E.R.

[churchillbuff]

Maybe you've forgotten September 11,

I most certainly have not forgotten 9-11. That's why from day one I've supported the war against the Taliban and Al-Quada, in Afghanistan. But as Bush and Cheney have admitted, Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. Invading Iraq was a diversion from the fight against the terrorists - Al Quada - who perpetrated 9-11. We haven't even caught the mastermind, Osama Bin Laden.

[churchillbuff]

Maybe you've forgotten September 11, but I have *NOT*!

Maybe you've forgotten Osama Bin Laden and Al Quada, but I have NOT! They're the ones who did 9-11, and they're the ones we should be fighting. Going into Iraq was an unncecessary diversion.

[CWOJackson]

Actually, you are the unnecessary diversion.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

That is a very interesting take on this. I don't doubt his father will think aout that aspect...and it is indeed sad

[Melas]

Your son lost his head and now you want to whine about it.

Most ignorant comment, ever.

[dts32041]

Nope the most ignorant statement ever is calling rachel correy flat as a pancake, but I can't take credit for that.

Berg's father is about the same close of liberal kombaya parenting as correy's parents.

[Sir Valentino]

If Al Qaeda didn't have *TIES* to Saddam, then why don't you explain why Al Qaeda attacked Spain in *RETALIATION* for Spain supporting the liberation of Iraq?

*WELL*? I'm *WAITING*!

[Robert_Paulson2]

over here

[A CA Guy]

I know, the father is an ass who was against the Jews in Israel and us being in the Middle east.

He's a lackey for the left.
His thinking was what enabled terrorists to get away with lots of evil IMO!

His thoughts of world views and a dollar can buy you TUMS!

[Robert_Paulson2]

If he is against Jews in Israel... well, he is against me.
his thinking IS part of the enabling activity of the left right now...

they are all praying for a "madrid" bombing on our own soil, to destroy the America we love, and replace it with their version of liberal "hell" on earth.

IT looks like the parents complained about their kid beingheld in protective custody, for whatever reason and he ended up getting sliced and diced by the muzzies who were waiting for him when he was released.

This one is going to be dissected and regurgitated...
I cannot believe the dad.

If I hear that "Islam is peace" over this incident... I am gonna puke again.

[A CA Guy]

The father is an enabler of the terrorists and sees no evil in any culture, except for probably the one he lives in.

[Tamzee]

Thank you so much for your prayers... they mean a great deal to his Mom and Dad.

[OldFriend]

The brutal killing of Berg is exactly why we are fighting this war........

Our hearts are broken for all who've been lost.

[OldFriend]

The father not caring about what terrors were being committed by Saddam Hussein is a terrible terrible irony.

[A CA Guy]

Maybe his own son will haunt him on that point in his dreams.

[gathersnomoss]

If someone passes wind, is it Bush's fault? I knew it was.

[jjbrouwer]

"I don't know what to believe, except I ain't buying what this POS (Michael Berg) says."

Very wise. I certainly wouldn't "buy" anything a POS like you said either. I am sure the grieving relatives of the murdered American thank you for your kind words, however.

[FrankR]

Seems to me, that if the U.S. Military would have retained him a little longer, he might not have gotten captured by the murderers.

On the other hand, how can his kerry-supporting father blame Bush, or the government...THE U.S. MILITARY RELEASED HIM....THAT'S RELEASED HIM!!! and it was the ragheads who caught him and killed him.

Oh, excuse me...I forgot...a logical liberal would be an oxymoron...

[petercooper]

A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist. They all work together towards one goal of killing all us infidels. We must eliminate them all.