beheading of an American civilian in Iraq and said the execution was carried out by an al-Qaida affiliated group to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, news reports said.
News of the execution came shortly after 36 American Protestant and Orthodox denominations made an unprecedented appeal to President George W. Bush to turn over authority in Iraq to the United Nations in the wake of the scandal and warned that "the current policy is dangerous for America and the world and will only lead to further violence."
The Associated Press (AP) news agency in Cairo, Egypt, reported that the video pictures of the beheading showed five men wearing headscarves and black ski masks, standing over a bound man in an orange jumpsuit — similar to a prisoner’s uniform — who identified himself as Nick Berg, a U.S. civilian whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday.
"My name is Nick Berg, my father’s name is Michael, my mother’s name is Suzanne," the man was quoted as saying on the video. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in … Philadelphia." There was no way to be certain the tape was authentic. After reading a statement, the men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" — "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.
OSAMA BIN LADEN
The video bore the title "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American." It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi — an associated of Osama bin Laden — was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution, AP said.
Berg’s family said Tuesday, May 11, they knew their son had been decapitated, but didn’t know the details of the killing. When told of the video by an Associated Press reporter, Berg’s father, Michael, and his two siblings reportedly hugged and cried.
"I knew he was decapitated before. That manner is preferable to a long and torturous death. But I didn’t want it to become public," Michael Berg was quoted as saying. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," said White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, traveling with President Bush in Arkansas. "It shows the true nature of the enemies of freedom. They have no regard for the lives of innocent men, women and children. We will pursue those who are responsible and bring them to justice."
CHURCH CONCERN
However the latest violence underscored concern among church leaders that the United States is losing control in Iraq. In a statement Tuesday, May 11, the National Council of Churches, which has been highly critical of the war, acknowledged that Christians disagree on the issue, but said that giving control to the U.N. was the only way to create "lasting peace."
"Many people see our policy as one based on protection of our country’s economic interests narrowly defined, rather than on principles of human rights and justice that would serve our nation’s interests," read the letter, monitored by AP, which the council hopes will be read in churches nationwide. "We are convinced that current policy is dangerous for America and the world and will only lead to further violence."
Also Tuesday, the United Methodist Church said its Council of Bishops "laments the continued warfare by the United States and coalition forces" and said the U.S. premises for the war — alleged Iraqi links with al-Qaeda and a buildup of weapons of mass destruction — "have not been verified." The 8.3 million-member denomination, which counts President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney as members, is the third-largest in the nation.
CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
"The cycle of violence in which the United States is engaged has created a context for the denigration of human dignity and gross violations of human rights of Iraqi prisoners of war," the bishops said in their resolution. They also demanded a greater U.N. role in rebuilding Iraq.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group based in Washington, has demanded that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his top advisers step down, saying "no other action" could restore the image of the United States.
However, Richard Land, head of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy arm of the influential 16 million strong Southern Baptist Convention, said that based on the information disclosed so far, Rumsfeld should stay, AP reported.
