Father of man beheaded in Iraq runs for Congress

[AGENDA21]

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Almost two years after the videotaped beheading of U.S. contractor Nick Berg in Iraq, his father is running a third-party race for the U.S. Congress on a platform seeking a complete withdrawal of American troops.

Michael Berg, a veteran anti-war activist and retired schoolteacher who campaigns in jeans and a T-shirt, is the Green Party candidate for the Delaware seat of seven-term Republican Rep. Michael Castle.

Berg, 61, acknowledges that his late entry into politics is a result of his son's grisly death at the hands of hooded captors in May 2004. The event brought the elder Berg worldwide media attention, especially after he publicly blamed U.S. President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"Other than stopping this war, I have no political ambitions," Berg said. "Let's face it, I would not be running if my son had not died in Iraq. People would not have known my name, and the Green Party would not have asked me to run."

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-03-30T180008Z_01_N30335982_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-POLITICS.xml&archived=False

[MadMaddie]

1. Good for him....as long as he or the Dem win....that's all that counts

:applause:

[AGENDA21]

4. Either of them will do!

[MadMaddie]

5. Indeed!!

[ShortnFiery]

2. Yes! Michael Berg is excellent - wished I lived in Delaware ...

I remember his genuine and heartfelt comments about the loss of his son. The guy came across as lucid, likable, driven, savvy and intelligent. The Greens have won an excellent candidate. I wish we had more Democratic hopefuls with his talent and demeanor.

[stop the bleeding]

3. Cool I hope he gets in

Bravo and my prayers still go out to him and all of the others affected by this messed up war.