For an Iraqi Family, 'No Other Choice'(Father forced to kill informer son)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10829-2003Jul31.html

Two hours before the dawn call to prayer, in a village still shrouded in silence, Sabah Kerbul's executioners arrived. His father carried an AK-47 assault rifle, as did his brother. And with barely a word spoken, they led the man accused by the village of working as an informer for the Americans behind a house girded with fig trees, vineyards and orange groves.

His father raised his rifle and aimed it at his oldest son.

"Sabah didn't try to escape," said Abdullah Ali, a village resident. "He knew he was facing his fate."

The story of what followed is based on interviews with Kerbul's father, brother and five other villagers who said witnesses told them about the events. One shot tore through Kerbul's leg, another his torso, the villagers said. He fell to the ground still breathing, his blood soaking the parched dust near the banks of the Tigris River, they said. His father could go no further, and according to some accounts, he collapsed. His other son then fired three times, the villagers said, at least once at his brother's head.

Kerbul, a tall, husky 28-year-old, died.

[indictrichardperle]

1. "Liberation"

Just spreading "democracy" through-out the middle east.......some day we will get the parades and flowers :eyes:

[loyalsister]

2. This is very sad to me

The worst part is it will be simplified as "more Iraqi brutality." When the fact of the matter is, we have some pretty ugly customs ourselves, and a response to treason in our current climate could be something beyond our worst nightmare. In a sense "less civilize" than what took place above because it would be based on vengeance. Since vengeance is not really a "formal" part of our legal system (except the death penalty), our vengeful\hateful customs are typically spontaneous violent acts. Crowds gathering to beat a single person senseless, or when they're organized maybe a lynching. It seems like when vengeance is exercised, the goal is the act, rather than the result of the act. Americans can be so violent, I hate to think of what could happen to such an informant here.

[NJCher]

4. yes

Look at the types of tactics this horrible administration has engendered, not just there but here. It is reminiscent of the worst days of the Soviet Union.

I can imagine few things as horrible as what this man was put through--shooting your own son? The entire climate that this article describes is dangerous and terrifying. The prediction that this war would open the gates of hell was true, indeed.


Cher

[Tinoire]

3. How heart-breaking!

Bush will not break these people easily! I am just beginning to understand the depth of their beliefs and national pride. Reminds me of the Palestinians and Afghans.

Wow. How sad. My heart breaks for the entire family, especially the poor father and the son who just went, not fighting. Poignant.

Makes me hate Bush even more. What an unrefined ignoramus. The UGLY AMERICAN as our President...