From: (The Truth Shall Set You Free)
Who killed Nick Berg?
May 29, 2004
Conspiracy theories about how the kidnapped American died in Iraq are
flying around the world. Richard Neville explores the explanations.
Iraq in flames, Washington an object of disgust. What to do? At this
pivotal moment, CNN and Fox News are tipped off to a clip of an
American citizen being beheaded. The victim is a 26-year-old idealist
from Pennsylvania, Nick Berg. Despite the perpetrators being masked,
the vile deed is deemed the work of al-Qaeda.
The clip was first "discovered" on an Islamic website in Malaysia. Its
Arabic title reads "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an
American". al-Zarqawi is a 38-year-old Jordanian militant who fled to
Iraq in 2001 after reportedly losing a leg in a US missile strike.
al-Zarqawi's face is widely known and he credits himself with the
deed, so why a mask?
The timing of the video was brilliant for the West. Media pundits
judged the crime a deeper evil than the systemic torture of innocent
Iraqis. But some people sensed a rat. But if it was not al-Qaeda, who?
Surely not Uncle Sam. That's too dark, even for the CIA.
While this video shows a human body having its head chopped off, it
does not necessarily portray an act of murder. Berg's headless body
was found dumped on a Baghdad roadside on Saturday, May 8.
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Three days later, the "live beheading" clip was uploaded from London
to the Malaysian website http://www.al-ansar.biz. The statement in the
video is signed with al-Zarqawi's name, dated May 11. After Fox News
and CNN had downloaded the video, it disappeared from the site.
As no autopsy is available, little is known about the state of the
body. No time of death, no forensic analysis. On April 6, a month
before the discovery of the corpse, Berg had been released from
custody. But whose custody?
Dan Senor, adviser to the US Presidential Envoy in Iraq, has said Berg
was never held by the Americans. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, the
Coalition's deputy head of operations, claimed he was in the custody
of Iraqi police from March 24 to April 6. However, the Iraqi police
chief, Major-General Mohammed Khair al-Barhawi, told Associated Press
"the Iraqi police never arrested the slain American".
Berg's family are certain his jailers were the US military. His
father, Michael, had been told so by the FBI. He has produced an email
from a US consular official in Baghdad, Beth Payne, confirming that
his son was in the hands of the US. (Later, another official said this
was an error.) On April 5 in the Philadelphia office of the US Supreme
Court, the Berg family had launched an action against the US military
for false imprisonment. The following day, Berg was released.
The issue of custody is significant; in his final moments on screen
Berg is wearing an orange jumpsuit of the kind familiar from
Guantanamo Bay. The official reasons for Berg's arrest were "lack of
documentation" and "suspicious activities". He carried sensitive
electronic equipment for which he lacked documents. In custody, he was
visited three times by the FBI. Such interviews are bound to have been
recorded but no transcripts have been produced.
After his release, Berg travelled to Baghdad and the $30-a-night
Al-Fanar Hotel. A fellow hotel guest told Newsday that Berg recounted
how Iraqi police had quickly handed him to US authorities in Mosul and
that he had been held the entire time in a jail where his guards were
US soldiers.
Berg was in Baghdad to win contracts for his family firm, Prometheus
Methods Tower Service, a provider of communications facilities. He
often "worked at night on a tower in the neighbourhood of Abu Ghraib",
according to The New York Times.
The family last heard from him on April 9, when he said he was
planning to leave Iraq via Kuwait as soon as it was safe. Berg was
last seen walking with his bags the following day, apparently hoping
to find his way through the turmoil engulfing the city and make it to
the border.
On March 7, 2004, two weeks before his arrest in Mosul, an "enemies
list" had been posted on a conservative website, FreeRepublic.com. The
list was compiled from signatories to an anti-war petition, and its
implied purpose was to encourage readers to harass those it named.
Berg's father was on that list, as was the family firm, Prometheus.
This information may well have triggered the arrest of Berg in Iraq.
Berg's politics are not clear. His father, Michael, has described his
son as a "staunch supporter" of US President George Bush. Friends said
Nick believed he could help rebuild Iraq "one radio tower at a time".
According to The New York Times, he was attracted to the Hebrew
concept of tikkun olam - healing the world through social action.
The first few seconds of the video shows Berg sitting on a white
plastic chair in an orange jumpsuit. He speaks directly to the camera
in a relaxed way: "My name is Nick Berg ... I have a brother and
sister, David and Sara. I live in Philadelphia." His white chair is
identical to those in the photographs of the Abu Ghraib prison
tortures, but such chairs are probably common in Iraq. It is highly
likely that this segment is edited from the interrogation of Berg
during his 13 days of custody.
In the next scene, Berg is sitting on the floor with five masked
figures standing behind him. We do not see the figures enter. Berg
looks lifeless, though his body appears to make slight movements. A
man reads a lengthy Arabic statement in a passionless monotone. He is
identified as "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi", a Jordanian associate of Osama
bin Laden who is tied to dozens of terrorist acts.
Yet a leaflet recently circulated in Falluja, by no means a reliable
source, claims that al-Zarqawi was killed in the Sulaimaniya mountains
of northern Iraq during a US bombing. A US military report last month
has claimed al-Zarqawi was killed in the bombing of Falluja.
Also, the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has said that
al-Zarqawi was fitted with a prosthetic leg in a Baghdad hospital, yet
the tape shows no evidence of a limp. CNN staff familiar with
al-Zarqawi's voice have been quoted as saying the voice does not sound
like his.
Among the many curiosities raised on the web about the fanatical five
are:
· They are well-fed, fidgety, and reveal glimpses of white skin.
· Their Arabic is heavily accented (Russian, Jordanian, Egyptian).
· An aside in Russian had been translated as "do it quickly".
· One character wears wears bulky white tennis shoes.
· The man on the far left stands in the familiar "at ease" military
posture.
· The men's scarves are worn and tied by people who "haven't a clue",
says conspiracy theorist Hector Carreon, like actors in Hollywood
movies.
· There is even a voice at the end that seems to ask in English, "How
will it be done?" [http://www.aztlan.net/nick_berg_how_done.htm]
None of this proves a grand conspiracy, but it does raise questions.
In the final segment of the tape, Berg is thrown to the ground, but
doesn't move. During the decapitation, starting at the front of the
throat, there is little sign of blood. The scream is wildly out of
sync, sounds female, and is obviously dubbed.
Dr John Simpson, executive director for surgical affairs at the Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons, told Ritt Goldstein of the Asia
Times, "I would have thought that all the people in the vicinity would
have been covered in blood, in a matter of seconds ... if it [the
video] was genuine".
Simpson agrees with other experts who find it highly probable that
Berg had died before his decapitation.
But there is still the problem of Berg's slight body movements while
sitting on the floor, before the beheading. According to a blogger
(internet diarist), Nick Possum, "this footage was subsequently
modified frame by frame to make Berg's body move very occasionally".
Apparently, this can be achieved with "commonly available software".
[http://www.brushtail.com.au/nick_berg_hypothesis.html]
Possum believes "the available evidence surrounding the case suggests
that it was a 'black operation' by US psychological warfare
specialists ... to provide the media with a moral relativity argument
to counter the adverse publicity over torture at Abu Ghraib". The use
of FBI footage in the opening sequence, if confirmed, suggests the
involvement of high-level US Government operatives.
I do not know who killed Nick Berg, or how he died. But there's
something fishy about this video.
In the end, the question is: who killed Nick Berg, and why?
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/28/1085641717320.html#
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| User: "TonyZ2001" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 05:05:54 AM |
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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that's who.
Tony
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| User: "Mark" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 02:12:50 PM |
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"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040531060554.13157.00000131@mb-m20.aol.com...
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that's who.
Prove it.
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 06:35:36 AM |
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In article <20040531060554.13157.00000131@mb-m20.aol.com>, (TonyZ2001) wrote:
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that's who.
You miss the true significance - these numerous claims/suggestions/questions on
who "really" killed Nick Berg is testimony to the level of trust the Bush
Administration has earned the United States worldwide.
Woods
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| User: "Mark" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 01:51:26 PM |
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"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:cMEuc.111527$hY.37094@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
In article <20040531060554.13157.00000131@mb-m20.aol.com>,
tonyz2001@aol.com (TonyZ2001) wrote:
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that's who.
You miss the true significance - these numerous
claims/suggestions/questions on
who "really" killed Nick Berg is testimony to the level of trust the Bush
Administration has earned the United States worldwide.
Astute!
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| User: "Su Zanne" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 07:10:52 AM |
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Woods wrote:
You miss the true significance - these
numerous claims/suggestions/questions
on who "really" killed Nick Berg is
testimony to the level of trust the Bush
Administration has earned the United
States worldwide.
That's right!
And there will never be any hope for peace until we have new leadership.
It is all so very sad and sickening, all the things that have come out,
all the lies and discrepancies and the pathetic way Bush has dealt with
it.
When you have lost trust and credibility worldwide, including your *own*
country... it is time for you to go.
SuZ
Woods
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| User: "R. Foreman" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 05:56:20 PM |
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(Su Zanne) Spat the Words
Woods wrote:
You miss the true significance - these
numerous claims/suggestions/questions
on who "really" killed Nick Berg is
testimony to the level of trust the Bush
Administration has earned the United
States worldwide.
That's right!
And there will never be any hope for peace until we have new
leadership.
It is all so very sad and sickening, all the things that have come out,
all the lies and discrepancies and the pathetic way Bush has dealt with
it.
When you have lost trust and credibility worldwide, including your
*own*
country... it is time for you to go.
I predict Bush will send even more troops to Iraq attempting
to qwell the uprising and stabilise things for the new gov't.
After all, keeping significant US troops in Iraq indefinitely
is the ONLY winning scenario for Bush right now. It makes
economic sense (but makes sense in no other ways) to pay
$20 Billion for annual military expenses and take out $120
Billion in oil from Iraq each year.
As for the Berg thing, I don't need an American beheading (staged
or otherwise), to make me want to put down terrorists. If it was
staged by some secret part of the US gov't, it didn't work, I still
think Bush is more dangerous to society than he's worth and just
about anybody could've done a better job these past 3 years.
SuZ
Woods
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| User: "Su Zanne" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 10:32:33 PM |
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R.Foreman wrote:
I predict Bush will send even more
troops to Iraq attempting to qwell the
uprising and stabilise things for the new
gov't. After all, keeping significant US
troops in Iraq indefinitely is the ONLY
winning scenario for Bush right now. It
makes economic sense (but makes
sense in no other ways) to pay $20
Billion for annual military expenses and
take out $120 Billion in oil from Iraq
each year.
I don't think anything about this war makes economical sense. We would
have profited to just have stayed home.
Look at Afghanistan....Will we ever leave?
Our troops are STILL dying over there and the minute we leave everything
will go back the way it was.
As for the Berg thing, I don't need an
American beheading (staged or
otherwise), to make me want to put
down terrorists. If it was staged by
some secret part of the US gov't, it
didn't work, I still think Bush is more
dangerous to society than he's worth
and just about anybody could've done a
better job these past 3 years.
Yep!
And his brother is doing his best to ruin my little Florida paradise.
Did you hear his ignorant answer to illegal immigrants? He said "Let
them have a license to drive - they are already here anyway."
Isn't that something?
Oh gosh! I've got my self started.....best to send this now! ;)
SuZ
my new sig:
"MY COUNTRY! MY COUNTRY!!! Look at what Bush has done to my country!!!"
"MY FLORIDA! MY FLORIDA!! Look at what JEB has done to my Florida!!!"
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| User: "R. Foreman" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
05 Jun 2004 07:03:48 PM |
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(Su Zanne) Spat the Words
R.Foreman wrote:
I predict Bush will send even more
troops to Iraq attempting to qwell the
uprising and stabilise things for the new
I don't think anything about this war makes economical sense. We would
have profited to just have stayed home.
War doesn't usually seem to make economic sense but it always
means big big bucks for the victor. It's the spoils of war and
big gov't contracts for companies back home, and future trade
with the subdued nation.
Look at Afghanistan....Will we ever leave?
Our troops are STILL dying over there and the minute we leave
everything
will go back the way it was.
As for the Berg thing, I don't need an
American beheading (staged or
otherwise), to make me want to put
down terrorists. If it was staged by
some secret part of the US gov't, it
didn't work, I still think Bush is more
dangerous to society than he's worth
and just about anybody could've done a
better job these past 3 years.
Yep!
And his brother is doing his best to ruin my little Florida paradise.
Did you hear his ignorant answer to illegal immigrants? He said "Let
them have a license to drive - they are already here anyway."
Isn't that something?
We don't get much of Jeb up here in Colorado. You should look
into bodybuilder governors from Austria. AhhNold says that
the Illegals shouldn't get to drive. And NoooBody argues with
AhhNold.
Oh gosh! I've got my self started.....best to send this now! ;)
SuZ
my new sig:
"MY COUNTRY! MY COUNTRY!!! Look at what Bush has done to my country!!!"
"MY FLORIDA! MY FLORIDA!! Look at what JEB has done to my Florida!!!"
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
01 Jun 2004 08:04:16 AM |
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On Mon, 31 May 2004 23:32:33 -0400, (Su Zanne)
wrote:
R.Foreman wrote:
I predict Bush will send even more
troops to Iraq attempting to qwell the
uprising and stabilise things for the new
gov't. After all, keeping significant US
troops in Iraq indefinitely is the ONLY
winning scenario for Bush right now. It
makes economic sense (but makes
sense in no other ways) to pay $20
Billion for annual military expenses and
take out $120 Billion in oil from Iraq
each year.
I don't think anything about this war makes economical sense. We would
have profited to just have stayed home.
Look at Afghanistan....Will we ever leave?
Sure you will leave, just like the Russians, with their tales between
their legs. The American government has not yet learned that they will
never win anything the way they are going about things whether its
Afghanistan or Iraq, or Vietnam.
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| User: "R. Foreman" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
05 Jun 2004 06:56:18 PM |
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Spat the Words
On Mon, 31 May 2004 23:32:33 -0400, (Su Zanne)
wrote:
R.Foreman wrote:
I predict Bush will send even more
troops to Iraq attempting to qwell the
uprising and stabilise things for the new
gov't. After all, keeping significant US
troops in Iraq indefinitely is the ONLY
winning scenario for Bush right now. It
makes economic sense (but makes
sense in no other ways) to pay $20
Billion for annual military expenses and
take out $120 Billion in oil from Iraq
each year.
I don't think anything about this war makes economical sense. We would
have profited to just have stayed home.
Look at Afghanistan....Will we ever leave?
Sure you will leave, just like the Russians, with their tales between
their legs. The American government has not yet learned that they will
never win anything the way they are going about things whether its
Afghanistan or Iraq, or Vietnam.
What about Germany? We took their country in 1945 and they asked
us to stay for the next 60+ years - same with Japan.
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| User: "Tadapope" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
31 May 2004 08:00:15 PM |
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The Red queen.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Who killed Nick Berg? |
01 Jun 2004 08:01:21 AM |
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On Mon, 31 May 2004 08:10:52 -0400, (Su Zanne)
wrote:
Woods wrote:
You miss the true significance - these
numerous claims/suggestions/questions
on who "really" killed Nick Berg is
testimony to the level of trust the Bush
Administration has earned the United
States worldwide.
That's right!
And there will never be any hope for peace until we have new leadership.
It is all so very sad and sickening, all the things that have come out,
all the lies and discrepancies and the pathetic way Bush has dealt with
it.
When you have lost trust and credibility worldwide, including your *own*
country... it is time for you to go.
SuZ
Woods
Well it looks as if a few Americans are waking up to the fact that
Butcher Bush does not have good intentions for their country. Only
problem is he will peobably steal the next election just like the last
one, after of course another government organized terrorist attack
against their own country.
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