6.19.2004

Paul Johnson: Will His Death by Beheading Stop All Questions?

Not quite like the beheading of Nicholas (Nick) Berg more than a month ago, I do think there are some questions to be raised and answered about the taking and the subsequent execution of Lockheed-Martin contractor Paul Johnson, whose severed head and body were shown photos on a Web site shortly before three men were shot to death supposedly disposing of him.

No, it's not just the issue of that strangely out of place orange jump suit again. All the other known captive-beheadings have been of Jews (Daniel Perle, Berg, and another contractor in Riyahd who was shot in the back before beheading) as if this fact alone was supposed to press home a point. If Johnson was Jewish, I have not heard that.