Daniel Pearl: did he die because he was a Jew or a journalist?

[babylonsister]

His wife and Angie Jolie are on Charlie Rose, but I wonder why he died.

[fooj]

1. Maybe he was investigating something they didn't want him too.

Or...maybe he was one of the first "warning shots" to the journalists covering the war. I guess I don't know enough about his story. I wonder how the movie will portray it.

[alfredo]

3. They may not distinguish between Journalist or Spy.

Even the most innocuous piece of information may have intelligence value. A journalist is a security threat.

[fooj]

5. Very true.

[alfredo]

7. If they knew he was Jewish he was then seen as a spy for Israel.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Sadly, militants aren't the only ones who believe that to be true.

We even see it here.

[alfredo]

11. Along with nearly every other country in the world. You know that

every country that has a stake here, spies on us. They'd be stupid if they didn't. That's just the way it is: there are no allies, only potential enemies.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. But being a Jew doesn't qualify one for being a spy for Israel.

I agree that all countries more than likely have spies in place, even among "friends." However, to assume a Jew is a spy for Israel because he is a Jew, well that is something else all together.

[alfredo]

17. Paranoia or just plain anti Semitism.

You know that all Atheist are Communists.

[bananarepublican]

16. The answer lies in what he was investigating at the time!

Were 'Islamo-fascists' really behind his demise? Just maybe he was looking at Pakistani intelligence links to 911!!!

[EFerrari]

24. Well, there is that.

:(

[fooj]

31. Considering what we NOW know...

it's not inconceivable.

[EFerrari]

34. The ISI.

:(

[fooj]

39. I didn't know what "ISI" was so I googled it. Holy shit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Services_Intelligence

Yikes.

[EFerrari]

41. They laundered money to Atta, among other things.

:shrug:

[Bozita]

2. The msm never seemed to make up its mind on that question.

That movie trailer was compelling.

[AZBlue]

4. I always thought he was killed because he was American.

Although being a Jew probably didn't help.

[SharonAnn]

36. They knew he was Jewish and had been tracking him. He worked for the Wall Street Journal.

He specifically wrote on Middle East issues because he believed that with information, knowledge and understanding that people could learn how to co-exist peacefully. He believed that much of our existing "news reporting" only exaggerated Middle East issues.

They knew who he was and he was a target for a multitude of reason, but being Jewish was probably the reason he was killed.

He was a wonderful person, I knew him as a boy and as a teen-ager. His parents are wonderful and they are so proud of him and what he accomplished in his short life.

[AZBlue]

42. I didn't realize that.

Unfortunately I only know a little about him - but I'm moved by what I know. You are very lucky to have known such a fantastic person and his family - and they should indeed be proud of him. I just bought A Mighty Heart today actually - and plan on seeing the film as soon as I finish reading it.

[Up2Late]

6. I doubt he would have been killed if he hadn't been Jewish...

...but being an American AND a reporter for the a*holes who claim to read The Wall Street Journal for the fair and balanced "news" coverage probably didn't help his situation.

[Rosemary2205]

8. he's just as dead either way. nt

[babylonsister]

15. Hey! Thanks for that insight! nt

[Rosemary2205]

18. Sorry I guess that did come out snotty, and I didn't mean it that way.

I just meant who knows the mind of a fundie extremist murderer and knowing why doesn't bring him back - and IMHO won't stop the next person murdered by these thugs. Again, I apologize for sounding so snotty.

[EFerrari]

19. There's a lot happening in Pakistan that we won't know for years.

Danny Pearl was a courageous man and we needed 100 like him, not to lose him. :(

[upi402]

9. Glad you brought him up. I was really bummed by his death.

I'd like to not forget him. Not sure why anyone does this sort of thing, really. I mean, I know about zealotry, but in reality - I have no friggin' idea why man's inhumanity to man continues to play out from a lizard-like place in our collective brains.

[WinkyDink]

13. Yes.

[EFerrari]

14. Danny Pearl died because he was a good journalist who took risks.

It sent a message out to the whole community to back off.

He could have been a Christian or an atheist, imho, and his murderers would have still wanted the same message sent. :(

[CTyankee]

20. But I seem to recall his murderers taunting him for being a Jew.

It was chilling. Then Pearl started saying, "I am a Jew. My father was a Jew. My grandfather was a Jew..." just about the time the sword fell on his neck. What a brave man!

[EFerrari]

22. Of course. But, imho they would have taunted him anyway

with anything at their disposal.

He was a human being, Danny Pearl. What a terrible loss.

[mmonk]

21. Wasn't he getting close

to Pakistani officials connected to the Khan network?

[EFerrari]

23. Yes. n/t

[mmonk]

27. I'm pretty sure that was the underlying or primary reason.

[KoKo]

25. There was alot of stuff about him here on DU ...speculation and

some good articles about the "mystery" of his death. Probably there in DU Archives.

I do remember that once you got past the speculation there seemed to be more to the story than what was reported. Like everything in Bush years...we only find out "some truth" YEARS later.

[Jed Dilligan]

26. I think being American sealed his fate,

Jew and journalist were just the icing on the cake.

[H2O Man]

28. He was killed

by the synergism of hatred and ignorance.

[mmonk]

29. Do you believe there is any possibility

that getting too close to the Khan network could have played a part in it?

[H2O Man]

32. I am not

in a position to give an informed opinion on that. I will say that, from everything that I have read or seen reported, this was not only a very good and decent man, but a highly intelligent and dedicated journalist. For that reason, I would assume that he had many enemies in that part of the world, including the possibility of what you mention here.

His death was an evil act.

[mmonk]

33. Evil act indeed.

[KoKo]

35. Yes....there was more to his death than was reported...or will be for

a time.

[slackmaster]

30. Both, plus the fact that he was an American

Technically he died from blood loss.

[Jacobin]

37. There is a significant portion of the muslim

population who are not enamored of Israelis

[Behind the Aegis]

43. Which has what to do with the topic?

Pearl was not Israeli.

[Jacobin]

44. Just as many in the US

equate all Muslims with the Taliban, there are many Muslims who equate all Jews with Israel and their policies which are not particularly well viewed in many parts of the world.

Does that clear it up for you?

[Behind the Aegis]

46. OIC, you were just giving an example of anti-Semitism.

Got it.

[fujiyama]

38. All of the above

and because he uncovering things that would have made our "crucial ally in the war on terror" look really bad.

[Glimmer of Hope]

40. Asra Nomani, a friend of Danny's and a former colleague at the WSJ

is running a class next fall at Georgetown to try to answer this question. Bernard-Henri Levy's book offers some answers. I find the case complicated and wish it was closed and done with.

[dkofos]

45. Because he worked for the CIA