Bush Condemns Execution of Berg in Iraq

[maddezmom]

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday that "there's no justification" for the execution of American Nicholas Berg in Iraq and that those who beheaded Berg wanted to "shake" America's resolve in bringing democracy to Iraq.

~snip~
"Their intention is to shake our will," Bush said. "Their intention is to shake our confidence," he said. "Yet by their actions they remind us of how desperately parts of the world need free societies. ... We will complete our mission, we will complete our mission."


It was the first time the president had spoken out personally on Berg's execution. Earlier, he had issued statements through his spokesman, Scott McClellan. McClellan said Wednesday Bush had not seen the tape of the beheading, but had been briefed on it.


Bush was trying to shore up public support for the Iraq war at a time when his approval ratings are sliding into the lowest point of his presidency, dragged down in part by the Iraq war.


The beheading of Berg confirmed the fears of many in the administration that the prison-abuse scandal would have dire consequences for Americans in Iraq.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20040512/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_berg

[lovedems]

1. Oh My God... Must see

MSNBC just had a translator on and she said Al-Qeda is NOT MENTIONED ONCE in the statement the terrorists made before beheading Berg. She was polite and said there must "be an honest mistake" on the part of the original translation.

What do you suppose are the implications behind this?

[maddezmom]

2. was wondering why the CIA hasn't confirmed the tape???

this is just plain sick.....yesterday the WH and the pukes were using it for spin, not today they are backing away form it.

[lovedems]

4. My mistake, it was CNN not MSNBC.

I think this is HUGE.

They also left out the "this is revenge for the Iraqi prisoners" out of the translation.

Politics over policy once again.

[lancdem]

9. Who left it out?

You mean the translator said it wasn't part of what was actually said by the executioners?

[lovedems]

13. Yes, she did a careful translation and said that Al-Qeda isn't mentioned

ONE TIME. There isn't any evidence from the statement that this is Al-Qeda.

As far as leaving out the revenge, the homeland securtiy left that out. As far as I know that is in the statement. It doesn't fit with the administrations policy so it must have been left out on purpose.

Somebody is changing the message on purpose it would appear.

[Just Me]

11. OMG!!! Evidence that "they" are just making sh*t up again?!!!

Is there a translated transcript on-line, yet?

[lovedems]

14. I saw one on the homeland security website

on that translation they conveniently leave out the part that this is revenge for the Iraqi prison abuse.

They will stop at nothing.

[lancdem]

10. I noticed the change, too

Now they're saying Berg was told to leave and didn't. I don't know what the hell's going on.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Well well well

something Georgie and I agree on. Finally and probably the only time. There is no justification for Mr. Berg's murder. Maybe if bush and co. would oversee their alleged mission better, this never would have happened.

[Tinoire]

5. Bull-shit! Bush congratulates Negreponte on another operation! n/t

[fryguy]

8. i was thinking the same thing...

interesting how the images of the beheading were conveniently released just as the prison issue was hitting the fan with great force. gives the bushites and neocons new evidence to support their war....

[fryguy]

6. does this moron do any thinking for himself?

"Bush had not seen the tape of the beheading, but had been briefed on it."

He needs to be briefed by someone to come up with the idea to condemn the beheading of an American? He couldn't have just logged onto CNN or Faux read the summary of the event and come to the conclusion? No. This guy apparently needs someone from the CIA, NSA, NSC, DIA, or condi, rummy or crashcart to tell him what's going on....it must be a wonderful isolating tower chimpy lives in....

[ewagner]

19. Log on?

Does Bush* have a clue on how to use a PC?

Could he "surf the net" even if he wanted to?

on topic: CNN's Arab language specialist apparently smelled something bad and they aren't about to let it rest.

[Unperson 309]

21. Hasn't SEEN It?! It's WAY Much Funner Than Frogs, Shrubya!

Note: The following to be read with sarcasm intonations ON!

Golly gee whiz, Georgie, you just GOTTA see that tape! I mean, if you liked blowing up frogs with firecrackers and mocking women condemned to die (with your signature on the warrant) then THIS is BushWoodie HEAVEN! You see everything! K*E*W*L!

Oh, but if you watch it, there'll be more than just a *stain* on the Oval Office carpets! They'll have to be *replaced* instead of just the steal cleaning you ordered on taking office. So if I were you, I'd watch it on those Hello Kitty rubber sheets in the Lincoln Bedroom. And use the Astroglide or probe lube. The maids are complaining that the Vaseline stains the antique upholstery.

/sarcasm

309

[daleo]

7. Suppose I am an American in Iraq right now, who wants out

Will the U.S. government help out? Would I be able to fly out of the Baghdad airport or do I still have to make my way to Jordan or Turkey?

Now that it is so dangerous to be there, will Bush actually help people who want to leave, or will he just pray for them after the fact?

[0007]

15. This whole story is starting to look like a CIA arrangment

to take heat off of the Abu Ghraib story.

Is there more to this narration of real or imaginary occurrences that I'm missing? Non of it makes sense to me at this point.

[Just Me]

16. Could be mercs, though. n/t

[0007]

27. Your know this whole thing sinks like hell

I think Berg was killed another way, but not as depicted by that phony video. Not much difference between the mercenaries or the CIA, is there?

[GI Joe]

31. Its Jihadis plain and simple

[Enraged_Ape]

32. Plain and simple?

Like the idiots who concocted this bullshit story the press is selling, and the Freeper monkeys who swallow it hook, line, and sinker?

[Kahuna]

12. Blah blah blah.. Heard it all before STFU!

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[Kagemusha]

17. What I heard initially was this:

This video appeared on a site known to sympathize with Al Qaeda.

It is therefore reasonable to think that this video may not have come from Al Qaeda but appeared on a site supporting jihadism against enemies of the faith as a sort of guest feature. Same goal, different brand name.

[SidDithers]

18. He should be forced to watch it...

"McClellan said Wednesday Bush had not seen the tape of the beheading, but had been briefed on it."

I can't bring myself to watch it, but I haven't sent 140,000 troops to take over a sovereign nation.

Sid

[grasswire]

20. I'm watching the CNN transcripts page...

...to see when the transcript of this translator turns up. I'll post it here. Not up yet.

[soleft]

22. I just heard the sound clip on Air America

Bush sounds like he has severe brain damage - the uh..........................execution reminds us of uh.........................

[dbt]

23. bu$h has Nicholas Berg's blood on his hands.

There was never a good reason for the invasion of Iraq. There were no WMDs, there was no connection with 9/11, there was no link to al Qaeda. Yet Monkey In A Man Suit pressed on with his holy war.

If bu$h hadn't decided to invade Iraq, Nicholas Berg might well be alive right now.

I am scared to death for my country for the first time in half a century. The psycopath that squats in the Oval Office is going to be the death of us all!

:argh:
dbt

[daleo]

24. As would about 1000 other Americans (soldiers and civilians)

Maybe 100 to 200 other coalition members, and probably at least 25000 Iraqis (probably a conservative estimate).

[moondust]

25. "No justification?"

Oh yeah, in this particular case there is "no justification." (But there may be in other cases!)

Sheesh. Mr. Inappropriate strikes again.

[Darranar]

26. "America's resolve in brining democracy to Iraq"? n/t

[dolstein]

28. Guess they should have executed him in Texas instead

NT

[DisgustedTX]

29. Just curious questions

1)How many severely overweight Arabs have you witnessed in life?
There are two in the "video".

2) Do Arab "terrorists" usually wear athletic shoes?

3) Do most Arabs have perfectly white skin tone?

Answer those for me George.

[opihimoimoi]

30. Those guys who did the nasty deed specifically said this was for

abusing Iraqi Prisoners, the revenge thing.