Christian talk show to record hate song

TALK SHOW HOST TO RECORD MARINE'S SONG - TOP
Mike Baker, Associated Press, 7/6/06
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/APE/607060501

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A radio talk show host will record and release a song a Marine corporal wrote about killing members of an Iraqi family, a spokesman for the show said Wednesday.

The song's author, Cpl. Joshua Belile, will not sing in the studio recording of "Hadji Girl," but he may receive royalties if "The Mike Church Show" charges for downloads. Church, the conservative host, will sing and release the song on the air next week, executive producer James Parker said Wednesday.

"We originally wanted Josh to sing the song, but the Marines are kind of gagging him on it," Parker said.

Officials at Camp Lejeune, which is adjacent to the Marine's air station, did not immediately return calls Wednesday, nor did Belile. Belile has said he wants the song publicly released on Church's program.

"Hadji Girl" first surfaced in a four-minute video circulated on the Internet. In the clip, Belile sings about a Marine who falls in love with an Iraqi woman and is then attacked by members of her family. The Marine, in turn, kills the family members.

The song prompted an outcry from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which brought the video to the Pentagon's attention. Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said the song was insensitive and glamorized the killing of Iraqi civilians.

"It's unfortunate that anyone would try and exploit this situation for personal gain," Hooper said Wednesday. "We had hoped the song had been put to rest by the military's decision." (MORE)