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--- Begin Message --- -Caveat Lector-Nick Berg's Killing: 50 Fishy Circumstances,Wed May 19, 2004 21:59
64.140.158.154List of Berg videos: Wizbang! Blog: Berg video site list
http://wizbangblog.com/archives/002452.phpNick Berg's Killing: 50 Fishy Circumstances,
Contradictory Claims, and Videotape Anomalies
SummaryA large number of anomalies surround the life and death of Nicholas
Berg. A Jewish man, 26 years of age and a U.S. Citizen, he traveled
alone in Iraq. Family and friends described Berg as an adventurer, high
spirited and intelligent. A Washington Post report notes, "Berg was a
weight lifting enthusiast and amateur comedian who had traveled abroad
to help people improve their lives. Among his trips was a visit to the
West African country of Ghana, where he taught villagers to make bricks
and returned emaciated because he gave away most of his food."Berg visited Iraq from December, 2003, to January, 2004, and then again
starting March 14, 2004. Berg was purportedly looking for electrical
contracting work building radio towers. He could not find work, though
there was reportedly plenty.
On March 24, Iraqi officials arrested Berg at a checkpoint in Mosul and
jailed him, because of his Jewish last name and the Israeli stamp in his
passport. (See Washington Post report - reg req'd - or CSM Terrorism &
Security update for May 13, which excerpts stories about Berg from
various media.) Berg told friends in Baghdad that the Israelis thought
he might be a spy. (See Telegraph article,"Beheaded American was arrested as a spy because of his Jewish name.")
On April 05, 2004, the Bergs filed suit in federal court in
Philadelphia, contending that their son was being held illegally by the
U.S. military in Iraq. The next day, April 6, Nick Berg was released. On
Saturday, May 8, Berg's body was found outside of Baghdad on a highway
overpass. On May 11, 2004, a video of Nick Berg's execution, seemingly
by beheading, was posted on the Muntada al-Ansar website, which is now
offline.There are conflicting reports about Berg's whereabouts in Iraq.
According to an email to the Berg family from Beth A. Payne, a U.S.
consular officer in Iraq, the U.S. military were holding Berg. This was
apparently for 13 days. Iraqi police denied holding Berg. In contrast,
the Telegraph article above notes, "Dan Senor, spokesman for the US-led
coalition in Iraq, insisted Mr. Berg was arrested and held by Iraqi
police." The timeline of Berg's captivity and the timing of the release
of the video are suspicious. If Payne was correct, why did the U.S.
military hold Nick Berg for two weeks? Why did the U.S. military deny
this?
The video of the killing has many flaws including problems with time
skips, audio dubbing, and the characteristics, appearance and speech of
Berg and the killers. People from Middle Eastern cultures believe that
Middle Eastern people were not involved in this video, based on the
mannerisms, accents, behavior and appearance of the killers. A close
inspection of the video suggests that Westerners may have been involved.
For a number of reasons, it does not appear that the Jordanian terrorist
Abu Masab Al-Zaraqawi, who was voice identified by the CIA (and whose
name was on the tape), was involved. He has a poorly functioning
prosthetic leg and a hand tattoo, which should have been observed.
Neither were. The accent of the speaker in the video was not Jordanian.
Why has the CIA seemingly lied about the analysis of Al-Zarqawi's voice
and his role in the killing?
Considering the many discrepancies and contradictions noted below, it
seems possible that the Berg killing is a poorly crafted psy-ops
exercise. This video was possibly constructed by U.S. operatives to
impact the extremely volatile political developments in the U.S. and the
international condemnation around the Abu Ghraib torture photos. The
torture photos are mentioned in the speech in the video, though Berg may
have been killed before the photos were circulated.
The majority of the points below are summarized and excerpted from eight
summary articles that culled points from news articles and blog posts.
(See links at end.) I compared, combined and edited the various points.
Further, I added more points based on my viewing of the video (see
Wizbang! Blog: Berg video site list) and by reviewing various news
articles. I also added a few points based on comments at kuro5hin.org.
Some of the points below are compelling. Some are weak or may turn out
to be insignificant or coincidental. This is a work in progress, an
early overview of discrepancies. There are too many discrepancies and
contradictions to dismiss doubts about the video and the official U.S.
stories about Berg. Additional inquiry and fact checking are needed as
the Berg story unfolds or, rather, unravels.
Points are included on these topics: Suspicious Circumstances and
Timeline; Timing of Killing and Videotape Release; Videotape of Berg,
His Decapitation, and Location; More Videotape Anomalies; Identity of
Killers of Berg and Their Possessions; and, Berg's Previous Activities
and Return of the Body
Suspicious Circumstances and Timeline
1) A Jewish man and U.S. citizen traveling alone in Iraq?
Why did a private Jewish American citizen choose to wander around Iraq
by himself? He also had a passport stamp from Israel - very unsafe to
travel with.
2) Berg wanted to return home
In his last email on April 6 to his family, Berg stated he wished to
return home as soon as possible. The FBI claim he refused an offer of
help to get home (perhaps because of danger to get to airport).
3) Three FBI visits
The FBI made three visits to the Berg while he was in custody in Iraq.
This suggest U.S. authorities were concerned about more than Berg's
well-being. They may have had their own suspicions about what the young
American was doing in Iraq.
4) FreeRepublic website listed the Berg business as an "Enemy of the
State".
Nick Berg's father, Michael Berg, signed an anti-war petition online and
included the business name. (Note that Nick Berg himself was pro-Bush
and pro-war.) This occurred a week before his son's second departure to
Iraq. As a result of this statement the Berg business was put on a right
wing enemies list. The FreeRepublic website listed the Berg business as
an "Enemy of the State." This may have been linked to the thre visits by
the FBI during Nick Berg's containment by the Iraqi Police and then
presumably by (or under supervision) of the US Military.
5) Family sues in U.S. and Berg released next day in Iraq
On 5 April, Berg's family filed a suit in federal court in Philadelphia
- contending that their son was being held illegally by the US military
in Iraq. The next day he was released and left to get himself home.
6) U.S. custody
Berg's last known whereabouts was in U.S. custody. On April 1, Beth A.
Payne, the U.S. consular officer in Iraq, sent an e-mail to the family
of Nick Berg. It stated that Ms. Payne had located Nick, and he was
currently in custody of the US military. She wrote, "I have confirmed
that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul. He
is safe. He was picked up approximately one week ago. We will try to
obtain additional information regarding his detention and a contact
person you can communicate with directly." (See: The Unanswered
Questions of Nick Berg's Murder at antiwar.com.) This is distinct from
the next point...
7) Denial of custody
The US military has stated that Berg was never in US custody and that he
had been in custody of the Iraqi police. The Iraqi police adamantly deny
he was ever in their custody. (See again: The Unanswered Questions of
Nick Berg's Murder.) If this is so, we have to conclude that either the
email from Ms. Payne was incorrect or that the US military has been
lying.
8) Apprehension of Berg
Berg was mysteriously captured while still wearing jumpsuit. Either he
escaped from U.S. captors or U.S. let him out -- with orange suit and
all -- to be immediately apprehended by "terrorists" (before he had a
chance to change). Or, thee captors somehow came across a U.S. military
prison jumpsuit. (More on this is below.) This scenario contradicts the
following:
9) Was Berg at hotel several days to April 10?
Staff at Al-Fanar Hotel in Baghdad apparently told The Associated Press
that Berg stayed there for several days until April 10. A U.S. consul
contract worker checked at the hotel on 4/14 and staff there did not
remember Berg.
10) Family blames detainment by U.S. military for Berg's death
The last time the family heard from Nick Berg was on 9 April. He had
planned to return home at the end of March. His headless body was found
near Mosul on 8 May. "That's really what cost my son his life, the fact
that the United States government saw fit to keep him in custody for 13
days without any of his due process or civil rights," Michael Berg said.
Timing of Killing and Videotape Release
11) Berg is killed before torture photos released but video tape refers
to photos?
To quote "Fishy Circumstances and Flawed Timelines Surround American's
Beheading)":
"me and a friend were discussing recent news events and trying to piece
together the information presented to us, thought you might want to look
into this further, they said in the news that Nicholas Berg was killed 2
weeks ago (i think), however in the video the culprits who killed him
said they were "avenging iraqi prisoner abuse" but those photos weren't
released until last week, so my question is how is that even a possible
motive if he was killed prior to the abuse photos being released?? maybe
i am misinformed but thought id ask the question to someone who would
look into it."
12) Text with video mentions "shameful pictures"
The text posted to the website along with the video the translation of
the Arabic statement, cites "shameful pictures." Here is a translation
of the Arabic statement (at the Northeast Intelligence Network) made
with the video: "And the shameful pictures and the news of the evil
humiliation of the Islam people men and women in Ghareb 's father prison
then where the jealousy and where the zeal and where the anger about the
Allah's religion and where the jealousy for the Muslims sanctities and
where the revenge for the honors of Muslims and Muslims is in the
crosses prisons."
13) Wag the dog timing
There is extremely convenient 'wag the dog' timing at the height of
furor regarding U.S. torture of Iraqis.
14) Torture photo timing
CNN poll question: 'Is the Berg killing a reason for withholding any
remaining Iraq prisoner abuse pictures?' Bush has been reported to be
struggling with question of whether the Pentagon should release
additional torture photos. Given that the alleged decapitation of Berg
was allegedly prompted by the first wave of torture photos, Bush could
now cite 'national security' issues for withholding additional
materials.
Videotape of Berg, His Decapitation, and Location
15) Orange jumpsuit
Berg shown in video wearing orange jumpsuit known to be of U.S. issue.
The orange jump suit "appears" to be identical to the jumpsuits used at
Guantanamo. (Compare with pictures at Guantanamo.) The orange jumpsuit
was standard US military issue to men in custody. It is unlikely Berg
would continue wearing a U.S. custodial uniform if he had been released
by the military as they claim. The fact he was still wearing the suit is
both anomalous and suggestive. One wonders: Was there an immediate
transfer of Berg from the US military to unknown persons, preventing
Berg from discarding his US prison garb?
16) No blood at decapitation
When Berg is decapitated, there was almost no blood. If Berg were still
alive at this point, with the cut starting at front of throat, blood
would have been spraying everywhere. Berg's severed head, the floor,
Berg's clothes, and even the hand of the 'Arab' who decapitated Berg had
no visible blood on it. When the executioner holds up Berg's head
immediately following what is represented as an actual decapitation of a
living person, there is no significant blood flow from the neck or blood
splatters showing anywhere on the executioner.
17) Berg did not move
Berg seems limp just before the beheading. It is not clear if he was
moving after the time skip in the tape. While on the ground, Berg's body
didn't seem move except in response to the captors movements. Although
held down, Berg would have tried to instinctively wiggle and writhe away
from captor's grip and use of a knife. (That is unless he was long dead
after the cut in the tape.) A surgeon would very likely testify that the
beheading did not cause the death.
18) Berg may have been dead just before beheading
The lack of spurting blood and lack of movement suggests Berg was
already dead at the time of the alleged decapitation. During the
beheading, Berg's eyes are not seen. Camera angle made it impossible to
see if Berg's eyes were open or glassy. Berg very probably was killed
before the staged beheading. Did the captors have no stomach for the
beheading of a living person?
19) Straight cut on the neck
The cut on Berg's neck seems to be too straight to have been done
crudely and with such speed by a man wielding a large knife. Anybody who
has carved a turkey knows there is something wrong with the supposed
beheading. The suspended head looks more like Berg had been neatly
beheaded by a guillotine.
20) Is the person in the video Berg?
Some viewers believe the person in the video only vaguely resembles
Berg. (Note: presumably the family can and will identify Berg's voice
and appearance.)
21) Chair
The chair that Berg was seated in during the filming was the exact same
kind as seen in a color photo taken at the Abu Ghraib Prison. One blog
mentioned this was "a standard issue military chair." However, these
chairs might be abundant in Iraq. (See photo comparisons at link in next
point.)
22) Walls and baseboard at the killing site same color as some in Abu
Ghraid prison
However, many walls may be similar in Iraq. To quote Marc Perkel (It's
The Same Chair!!!! OMFG!!):
"I have some more pics but the walls are the same yellow color and the
baseboard is the same color as Abu Ghraib prison."
More Videotape Anomalies
23) The videotape was quite blurred.
24) A quickly disappearing video source?
A Reuters journalist in Dubai first named the Muntada al-Ansar al-Islami
website as the source for the video - at www.al-ansar.biz. Although the
site has now been shut down, Aljazeera.net had looked at the site within
ninety minutes of the story breaking - and could find no such video
footage. But Fox News, CNN and the BBC were all able to download the
footage from the Arabic-only website and report the story within the
hour.
25) Tape editing
The video tape is obviously spliced together and heavily edited: Going
from a) Berg sitting in chair talking about family, to b) Berg sitting
on floor with hooded "militants" behind, to c) blurry camera movement,
to d) almost motionless Berg on floor as head cut off.
26) Long time jump in datestamp
There is a significant time jump on tape from a datestamp in the tape of
about 2:44:40 to about 13:45:47. There could have been two cameras
recording this event. However, there were changes in dress after the
fact that would lead to the idea of an elapsed time.
27) Scream dubbed in: Screaming starts while Berg is not moving and
before he is touched
Whatever the mismatch in the speaker and video (next point), videotape
cognoscenti have said the scream was amateurishly dubbed into the tape.
The writer of this K5 article reviewed this issue closely: The screaming
starts (at 4:31 - on the copy I viewed, not the time stamp) about 5 to 6
seconds before Berg is touched (at 4:36) and he is moved to his side. He
is just sitting there like a lump. While the screaming commences for (1
- 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 seconds), his head doesn't move and his mouth doesn't
appear to move (though the tape is blurry), nor does he seem to be
physically screaming at any time. Yet the audio plays a loud vigorous
screaming. The exact same dubbed screaming continues after the long time
jump and a bit of a time gap with silence and after some cu
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CAUTION:: GRAPHIC NICK BERG VIDEO OF HIS MURDER
— RANGER, Wed May 19 21:47
Nick Berg's Killing: 50 Fishy Circumstances, — decon recon, Wed May
19 21:59
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