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."

[kcvl]

OMG!

[Palladin]

This is a terrible tragedy.

Those people (Iraqi terrorists) are animals.

I have no problem with our military treating them like animals.

The situation is deteriorating on a daily basis.

The President had better find his backbone and demand that we bomb these animals into oblivion.

[cajungirl]

I am confused. Was this man over there freelancing in Iraq? Do people do that, like just go over there and start fixing things? who was he workig with? It doesn't make sense.

[habs4ever]

Is it posible to have a cease and desist on ALL smartass comments on this and any other thread when someone gets killed?

NO MORE DUMBASS JOKES OR CHEAP CRACKS.

RIP Nick Berg

[Williams]

Folks get a hold of yourselves. IF Nick Berg was pro Bush and pro Iraq war, we are seeing a left wing father disregard his own son's beheading by Al Queda, to attack the Bush administration. If Nick Berg was anti war, we are still seeing (as with Richard Perle) that the head of a journalist or liberal is of no more value to Al Queda than a U.S. soldier. The enemy is Al Queda, and after that the left wing.

By the way I heard on the news that the local rat congressman was already in the family home. Despicable. But let's emphasize this. Whether this family reacts one way or another, it is all of our heads at risk.

[Shryke]

Is Berg a a Jewish name, if it is Alqedia got a twofer.Highly unlikely, if this man was travelling to Arab countries like Jordan.

[Petronski]

I haven't seen any so far.

[Victoria]

In what way has the father fanned the hatred? I'm not familiar with the background.

[Williams]

Truly incredible the viciious beheading of an American by Al Queda is going to be blamed on America. The left will gladly lay all our heads down for its goals.

[skeeter]

Who expected the MF'n press WOULDN'D play politics with this?

The only surprise is how fast.

[RightWhale]

Michael Berg said he blamed the U.S. government for creating circumstances that led to his son's death.

Get a grip. Some old bones in Rumania are beginning to stir. If the jihadists are impressed by their own violence, they will be doubly impressed when Vlad returns.

[Neets]

Boy, you sure have high hopes.

[ASA Vet]

Osama should resign

OBL's been dead for 2 1/2 years and you want his resignation too?
Now that's being hard hearted. ;o)

[kcvl]

Maybe we can "HELP" Al Jazeera REPORT this... Al Jazeera

It's a LITTLE busy right now.

[Howlin]

MARCH 20, 2004


GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION
on the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of the U.S. BOMBING and INVASION of IRAQ


Bring the troops home now!

As of Saturday, February 28, the March 20 Call to Action has received over 2,000 endorsements. Below is a partial listing. Click here to endorse.


Call signed by (partial listing):


Michael S. Berg, Teacher, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, Inc.,
West Chester, PA

From this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1092851/posts

Global Day of Action: http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/

[RGSpincich]

2:04-cv-01497-MAM BERG et al v. RUMSFELD
MARY A. MCLAUGHLIN, presiding
Date filed: 04/05/2004
Date terminated: 04/09/2004 Date of last filing: 04/09/2004



Case Summary
Office: Philadelphia Filed: 04/05/2004
Jury Demand: None Demand:
Nature of Suit: 530 Cause: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federal)
Jurisdiction: Federal Question Disposition:
County: Outside the U.S. Terminated: 04/09/2004
Origin: 1 Reopened:
Lead Case: None
Related Case: None Other Court Case: None
Flags: CLOSED, HABEAS

Petitioner NICHOLAS EVAN BERG represented by ALFRED A. GOLLATZ Phone: 610-692-9116
Fax: 610-692-9177
Email: agollatz@ggelaw.com

Petitioner MICHAEL S. BERG represented by ALFRED A. GOLLATZ Phone: 610-692-9116
Fax: 610-692-9177
Email: agollatz@ggelaw.com

Petitioner SUZANNE CAROL BERG represented by ALFRED A. GOLLATZ Phone: 610-692-9116
Fax: 610-692-9177
Email: agollatz@ggelaw.com

Respondent DONALD H. RUMSFELD

[TYVets]

Mansoor Ijaz just said on Fox News that Abu Zarqawi would do this to anyone of us if they got the chance!

Not if i shoot first !

[montag813]

BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF VIACOM!

BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF HACKWORTH!

BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF THE DEMOCRATS!

How many Americans will die as a result of their traitorous attempts to use these images as a political weapon?

[montag813]

BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF VIACOM!

BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF HACKWORTH!

BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF THE DEMOCRATS!

How many Americans will die as a result of their traitorous attempts to use these images as a political weapon?