Some reactions from the arab world about Nick Berg's gruesome assassination

[deSelys]

from aljazeera


Some condemn it, some criticize it as "counter-productive", some approve it.... some see it as a complot and some even point out the "silence on the atrocious crimes committed in Iraq"....

The bottom line is, to every decent man in the world, whatever his race, culture and religion are, cold blooded murder and torture can only be viewed as completely against the universal human morals.

to the Arabs condemning the murder, to the Westerners condemning the tortures.

[Ripsnort]

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by deSelys
from aljazeera


Some condemn it, some criticize it as "counter-productive", some approve it.... some see it as a complot and some even point out the "silence on the atrocious crimes committed in Iraq"....

The bottom line is, to every decent man in the world, whatever his race, culture and religion are, cold blooded murder and torture can only be viewed as completely against the universal human morals.

to the Arabs condemning the murder, to the Westerners condemning the tortures.

Another perspective:

Beheading of American shocks world

(CNN) -- Video posted on an al Qaeda-linked Web site of the beheading of a U.S. civilian in Iraq has prompted outrage -- but some support -- around the world.

The film showed Nick Berg, a freelance communications worker from Pennsylvania, speaking briefly before being beheaded by his masked captors.

The Web site said the killing was carried out by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a top ally of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Images from the tape showing Berg and his captors dominated TV broadcasts and newspapers around the world on Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting condemnation from most world leaders.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair described the killing as "a truly barbaric act" while White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States would vigorously pursue those who carried out the killing.

McClellan said the videotape showed "the true nature of the enemies of freedom. They have no regard for the lives of innocent men, women and children." (U.S. reaction)

One Kuwaiti newspaper used a picture of one of the killers holding the severed head and some Greek TV stations showed the execution, Reuters reported. Much of the world's media only showed images of Berg before his execution.

Arab media reacted cautiously to the killing, with some newspapers playing it down. But one Baghdad citizen, Adel Karim, told CNN: "If they are Muslims, the messenger of Allah, Mohammed, says, 'Don't kill, even sick dogs.'"

Another man from Baghdad, Atef Jassem, added: "Musab is a terrorist and all of the resistance is coming from outside Iraq, like Syria and other parts of the world."

But some in Afghanistan defended the murder, blaming the United States for starting a cycle of violence following the coalition invasion of Iraq.

Jabar Khan, a Kabul shopkeeper, said: "This beheading is a good act because the Iraqis have been oppressed and whoever is oppressed should defend themselves. As a Muslim I support this act."

There was also some measured sympathy in the most populous Muslim nation in the world, Indonesia.

In Jakarta, one resident, Budi, said: "Even hostages, under the teachings of Islam, must be treated humanely. If others did otherwise, it doesn't mean we should do the same.

"But then under the current conditions ... such chaos in Iraq ... we cannot blame the Iraqis whose lives have been totally destroyed."

In Japan -- as well as other parts of non-Muslim Asia -- Berg's murder was widely condemned.

In Tokyo, Norio Kato expressed sympathy for the United States' predicament in Iraq.

"I think the situation will become more of a quagmire, but if you think about world peace it's necessary for us to be there. I mean the Iraqis had that horrible president, didn't they?"

In Britain, some leading politicians said the execution highlighted the threat to coalition soldiers in the wake of allegations of abuse made against U.S. and British troops.

One of the masked men in the video read a statement saying the beheading was revenge for the "Satanic degradation" of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers.

Menzies Campbell, foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition Liberal Democrats, said on Wednesday: "This is an act of undiluted barbarism which will fill every civilized person with horror.

"It only serves to emphasize just how dangerous Iraq has become for coalition forces, including the British."

Iranian radio accused western media of using the images for propaganda purposes. "As a result the issue of Iraqi prisoners' torture has been totally ignored by these media," the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran said, according to Reuters.

The British Red Cross said it was shocked and appalled by the killing and would pursue those responsible and bring them to justice.

Spokesman Leigh Daynes told the UK Press Association: "The rules of war, of which the Red Cross is the guardian, apply to all belligerents in times of armed conflict, and we would expect the rules of war to be observed at all times.

"This extends to the protection of innocent civilians caught up in conflict."

Iraqi Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin said Iraq would do everything within its power to bring Berg's killers to justice.

"Those psychopaths who committed this immoral crime should be brought before justice very rapidly and get their deserved punishment," Amin said.

Edward Rendell, governor of Berg's home state Pennsylvania, said he was appalled at "the horrific and inhumane way" the 26-year-old had been killed.

"The captors of Nick Berg who perpetrated this atrocity misread the American people," he said.

"If they think that acts like this will cause the American people to decide that the time to cut and run has come, they will find that the American people will have their resolve strengthened by atrocities like this."

[mosgood]

"Iranian radio accused western media of using the images for propaganda purposes. "As a result the issue of Iraqi prisoners' torture has been totally ignored by these media," the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran said, according to Reuters. "

What a load of crap.....

[Ghosth]

When are americans going to get smart & start blaming the REAL culprits.

The MEDIA!

They have HARPED on this prison torture thing for 2 weeks and THIS is what they get for a reward, MORE NEWS!

Which they can beat to death for another 2 weeks till someone else dies in a newsworthy fashion.

Americans are being judged not by us, decent, careing hardworking people. But by our news media that could care less what it is as long as it sells.

Enough, turn off cnn, don't buy a paper (well except sundays of course).

They are trying to get our attention, well maybe its time they got it.

Maybe its time the news media got shook up. Maybe we should be shooting camera men & talking heads instead of
poor arabs.

Maybe its time WE decided who we wanted to run for office instead of the MEDIA shoving it down our throat!

Then maybe the world could go back to doing its thing in peace.

[Ripsnort]

Maybe more shark attacks will shift Media focus Ghosth?

[Ghosth]

LOL

Remember how loud the media screamed when journalists were abducted?

[deSelys]

Originally posted by mosgood
"Iranian radio accused western media of using the images for propaganda purposes. "As a result the issue of Iraqi prisoners' torture has been totally ignored by these media," the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran said, according to Reuters. "

What a load of crap.....

CC...and maybe an iranian reading on this board the numerous posts regarding the silence of the Arab world and imams about Berg's execution would say:

"What a load of crap..."

Information is rarely complete and reliable.
I agree with Ghosth (and not only because he is my CO!)

[Tarmac]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/13/iraq.berg/index.html

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates issued official statements denouncing the murder.

[StabbyTheIcePic]

Originally posted by Ripsnort

This picture is pretty dumb, as the media has covered the murder of nick berg far more the past day then what was going on over in our pow camps.

[Wanker]

I don't know why it surprises you guys that the world would react differently to both atrocities.

The gruesome beheading of Mr. Berg was certainly shocking and despicable, but how many here are really surprised that al-quaeda(or terrorists in general) are capable of doing something like this?

On the other hand, the great American nation, the pillar of justice and humanity throughout the world, gets caught abusing prisoners of war in violation of not only the laws of the Geneva convention, but of the laws of decency and fair treatment as accepted by the civilized western world.

From a media perspective, which is the bigger, more surprising story? Seems obvious to me.

No reasonable American can fail to be humiliated and angered by the shocking news that our heroic and honorable troops have been caught being not very honorable. Regardless how the terrorists behave, we should expect that our troops will treat prisoners with human decency in accordance with the Geneva convention. Anything less brings us down to their level of barbarism.

Instead of condemning the news media, we should be thanking them for bringing this to our attention. A news media that alerts the American public to abuses by its soldiers and government is doing its job. "Don't shoot the messenger" is the most appropriate phrase.

Btw Ghosth, didn't you resign as squad XO many weeks ago? You are still advertising youself as my XO, which you are not.

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by Ghosth
When are americans going to get smart & start blaming the REAL culprits.

The MEDIA!

They have HARPED on this prison torture thing for 2 weeks and THIS is what they get for a reward, MORE NEWS!

Which they can beat to death for another 2 weeks till someone else dies in a newsworthy fashion.

Americans are being judged not by us, decent, careing hardworking people. But by our news media that could care less what it is as long as it sells.

Enough, turn off cnn, don't buy a paper (well except sundays of course).

They are trying to get our attention, well maybe its time they got it.

Maybe its time the news media got shook up. Maybe we should be shooting camera men & talking heads instead of
poor arabs.

Maybe its time WE decided who we wanted to run for office instead of the MEDIA shoving it down our throat!

Then maybe the world could go back to doing its thing in peace.

To coin a phrase taken from another post:

"Turn off the G**Damn AM radio!"

[Eagler]

"alert" is one thing, to grind into the ground/inflame hatred for their personal gain is another.. the investigations were already under way when the media got hold of the photos.
the media did not break the story, the military was already handling it...the media did nothing but inflame the hatred of us to our enemies for a bag of gold.

[ravells]

Originally posted by Tarmac
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/13/iraq.berg/index.html

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates issued official statements denouncing the murder.

At, bloody last.

Thanks for the post, Tarmac.

Ravs

[TheDudeDVant]

thats right Ghosth...  kill them!  kill them all!! better yet, BURN them!! Burn their buildings, burn the presses.. Burn the papers!  Damn them for reporting news! Burn them all!! Burn the libraries!! Burn the books!! Lets all gather in large circles expressing our own perfections and BURN!! Yes, BURN those stupid books! If people read it, they might want to copy it or worse!  BURN IT ALL!!!!!!! BURN the forest so we have no more paper!!! Burn, BUrn!! BURN!!!!

DAMN YOU free-press! you must BURN!!!

dude