Breaking - Government claims it never held Berg:

[the_real_38]

they shove it off on the puppet "Iraqi Police", that vaunted institution.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/11/iraq/main616842.shtml

<snip>
The young American who was decapitated on a videotape posted by an al Qaeda-linked Web site was never under U.S. custody despite claims from his family, coalition spokesman Dan Senor said Wednesday.

Senor told reporters that Berg, 26, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, was detained by Iraqi police in Mosul. The Iraqis informed the Americans and the FBI met with Berg three times to determine what he was doing in Iraq.

Senor said that to his knowledge, "he (Berg) was at no time under the jurisdiction or detention of coalition forces."

However, calls by The Associated Press to police in Mosul failed to find anyone who could confirm Berg was held there or why.
</snip>


My guess is, oh, this may be in the same class as, say, WMD's - we know where they are. This guy was set up.

[Frances]

1. And there were 6 or 7 bad apples

who were responsible for the prisoner abuse

And no one knows who those 6 or 7 bad apples reported to. The chain of command ends with them.

And anyone who criticizes anything to do with Iraq is playing partisan politics.

[IkeWarnedUs]

31. The "bad apple barrel" is filling up

60 Minutes II tonight will show home video of abuse at another Iraqi prison, Camp Bucca. From the 60 Minutes II website:


<snip>
60 Minutes II exclusively obtained an American soldier's home video from Camp Bucca in Southern Iraq and Abu Ghraib in Baghdad, where American soldiers have been accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners.

The video shows a young soldier's disdain for the Iraqi prisoners. She says: "We've already had two prisoners die...but who cares? That's two less for me to worry about."

Two other soldiers who were at Camp Bucca and are accused of abusing prisoners there tell Correspondent Dan Rather that the problems began with the chain of command -- the same chain of command that was in charge of Abu Ghraib when the pictures of torture and abuse were taken.

Rather's report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/11/60II/main616849.shtml

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. What a load of crap!

Let them keep lying-everyone but the knuckle-draggers, the wingnuts and the whoring media shills is onto them now. Their obvious b.s. is turning them into laughingstocks.

[mopaul]

3. highly suspicious, this COULD generate conspiracy theories...

...if that's still fashionable

[Bridget Burke]

4. Some of us turned in our tin-foil hats long ago.

The mylar burka is much more effective.

And not about to go out of fashion, unfortunately.

[CWebster]

6. Sort of like those who claim

that Bush stole the election?

People are afraid not to believe everything their government tells them. It happened in Nazi Germany. They think that anyone who challenges the official explanation is wearing a tin foil hat and anything, even when it is based on solid reason and evidence and history, is the quakery of conspiracy theorists. That makes it all so easy to dismiss.

[Beam Me Up]

12. MOPAUL!

lol Thank you for your wit. I take things SO seriously; it is good to see someone with a more refreshing take on things. Helps me ease up.

[skypilot]

5. So, what are they saying?

Are they saying that coalition forces have no sway with Iraqi police? Iraqi police were supposedly holding Berg and we couldn't get him back--until he was dead, that is? Am I understanding this correctly?

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. They're saying...blame somebody else. n/t

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. Basically saying the FBI work for the Iraqi police.....n/t

[Neecy]

8. uh-huh

However, calls by The Associated Press to police in Mosul failed to find anyone who could confirm Berg was held there or why.

How much do you want to bet an Iraqi policeman in Mosul will be trotted out before the end of business today to say that he saw Berg at their facility?

Regardless of what you think about the video - faked, mercenary-led conspiracy, whatever - this is a clear cover-up. The father complained yesterday about the illegal detainment of his son in Iraq by US FORCES and blasted Bush for destroying our civil liberties.

Overnight, by magic, it wasn't *us*, gosh no, who detained this kid and kept him from his scheduled departure from Iraq, refused him access to a lawyer and wouldn't allow him to make phone calls. Nope, we didn't do all that, the Iraqi PO-lice did that, since of course their current grip on democracy is a little weak but as you know we're teachin' them all about freedom.

This STINKS. The administration knew that there would be a lot of public questions as to what our military was doing with this kid, lawful or not, and why he was held for two weeks incommunicado and the delayed departure directly contributed to his murder. This is utter bullshit and spin.

[goodhue]

10. letter from Berg parents

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...


http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Tower-pro/message/19321



Dear Friends and Customers of Nick Berg and Prometheus Towers,

I am enclosing the following news release which my wife and I are about to release to the media for you. If anyone out there in the broadcast industry can do anything to help us spread the word about our son's disappearance especially to the Mid East, we would be very appreciative:

On March 14 our son, Nick Berg, left for Iraq to inspect some radio towers that had been damaged during last year's war. His goal was to secure some contract work for his business, Prometheus Methods Tower Service. He planned to return on March 30 through Amman, Jordan.

On March 24, Nick was picked up by the Iraqi police in Mosul and held for questioning for no apparent reason. He was subsequently detained by the U.S. military and interrogated by the FBI until his release on April 6. No reason was ever given for holding him for these 13 days. Immediately upon his release he emailed the family and proceeded south to Baghdad where he was staying at the Al Fanar Hotel.

On April 9 he called us and said that he was seeking a safe route out of the country either through Jordan, or possibly Turkey. Most of the major routes were closed due to military action around Fallujah. Since that time we have had no contact with our son. No one we know in Iraq has seen or spoken to him, and we know that he has not accessed his email. We are extremely worried about his safety. We are asking anyone who has seen Nick or knows anything about his whereabouts to come forward and give us this information so that he can be safely brought home.

We extend our sympathies to all of the many families who are in the same situation.

Suzanne and Michael Berg

[mopaul]

13. now wait a frikkin' minute there....

this is downright freaky. i'm already a wild eyed conspiracy nutball embarassment to the democratic party, but i think i'm about to go up 10 notches. i'm buying stock in reynold's aluminum foil.

now, the really insane part of my brain is suggesting that this man was a sacrificial goat, gruesomely executed by masked men, in a film so grainy it looks like it was made with a video camera from the 70's. and the timing? on the very day gen. taguba was opening the floodgates?

well, i like to have a few drinks now and then, to relax, but i'm gonna have to git me some o them tranquilizers that rumsfeld's pharmaceutical companies make.

[the_real_38]

16. insane part of my brain is suggesting that this man was a sacrificial goat

I must be wired the same way , because my instincts are telling me this guy was set up. Either through maliciousness, carelessness, or direct calculation.

[goodhue]

11. Philadelphia FBI spokeswoman confirmed agency interviewed Bergs

Sat, May. 08, 2004
West Chester contractor missing in Iraq

Associated Press

<snip>

He stayed until Feb. 1, making contact with a company that indicated there would likely be work for him later. But he returned on March 14 and there was no work, so he began traveling. He usually called home once a day and e-mailed several times; Michael Berg is his business manager, and they needed to stay in touch.

<snip>

When FBI agents arrived at the Berg's West Chester home on March 31, they were relieved to know their son was alive, but in jail. The agents questioned them about various details that only they and their son would know about.

Jerri Williams, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia FBI office, said the agency was "asked to interview the parents regarding Mr. Berg's purpose in Iraq."

On April 5, the Bergs filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia, contending that their son was being held illegally by the U.S. military in Iraq.

<snip>

Nick Berg said he would come home through Jordan, Turkey or Kuwait.

<snip>

The Bergs have hounded the State Department, the FBI and the International Committee of the Red Cross, seeking information. Michael Berg said the State Department sent an official to Nick Berg's hotel, where an employee told the official they had not heard of him.

<snip>

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/8621773.htm

[bobthedrummer]

14. DYN CORP HAS THE IRAQI POLICE AND CORRECTIONS CONTRACT

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

[jackstraw45]

15. You sure that's true?

Sure doesn't look like it these days....

[bobthedrummer]

19. Look, when I make a statement like that you can take it to the bank.

Click on DYN CORP and get up to speed on FACTS.

I'm no bullshitter.

Post-War Contractors (MERCENARIES) Ranked by Total Contract Value in Iraq and Afghanistan
http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/resources.aspx?act=total

Campaign Contributions of Post-War Contractors (MERCENARIES)
http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/resources.aspx?act=contrib

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

[the_real_38]

21. Dude, great links....

.... thanks. And GE is at the top of the list of contributors. And they own networks reporting on a war they're profiting from.

Good work.

[bobthedrummer]

24. Another fact to ponder, SAIC has at least 7 DoD contracts for broadcast

media in Iraq-I'd bet Mr. Berg spoke to SAIC at some point since he ostensibly was in Iraq looking at "radio towers"--there are statements from his family about "business" calls.

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

[mmm]

22. Hey Drummer, I think Straw was responding to your tag line

"NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW"

I don't think anyone doubts the veracity of your info.
At any rate, I didn't realize DYN CORP had that contract.
Sad to hear it.


(Zildjian, Paiste or Sabian?)

[bobthedrummer]

32. Paiste 20" Dry Crisp ride, 13" Paiste Sound Formula hi-hats, 16" Zildjian

Custom A crash-no one is above the law isn't my sig but it is a rallying point!

[mmm]

36. Nice set up; ideal for jazz.

[mopaul]

17. kick

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. Am I the only one that wonders how many other Americans are missing

that we don't know about? I mean, this guy was missing since April 9th if I read all the info I read correctly and we only came to know about it yesterday even though apparently our government was aware at least that he was missing. Others are taken hostage and we find our about it in real time...why didn't we know about Berg? How many more are there that are missing that we don't know about?

[the_real_38]

20. re: Am I the only one that wonders how many other Americans are missing

Great point - when that truck driver first disappeared, it was all over the media. But in this guy's case, this was the first that I'd heard of him. Very strange, and out of keeping with hostage crises from the past , too - like in Iran and Lebanon.

Something strange is going on here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

33. This is interesting. They publicized the capture and demands of

a soldier's kidnappers but not that of a civilian. I do wonder how many have gone missing. I am sure there are some out there.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. The Halliburton Guy was a civilian

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. I'm not talking about the Halliburton guy I'm talking about the soldier

last month...

Remember? Demands were made for the release of Iraqi prisoner in exchange for his life and the U.S. said no. I doubt we'll hear about what happened to him now.

Keith Maupin

[Elbowroom]

23. wait a minute

didn't i see a post here earlier that said one of our government officials said that they did have him in custody and they released him? or did i just imagine that?

[goodhue]

27. FBI

<snip>

When FBI agents arrived at the Berg's West Chester home on March 31, they were relieved to know their son was alive, but in jail. The agents questioned them about various details that only they and their son would know about.

Jerri Williams, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia FBI office, said the agency was "asked to interview the parents regarding Mr. Berg's purpose in Iraq."

On April 5, the Bergs filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia, contending that their son was being held illegally by the U.S. military in Iraq.

<snip>

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/8621773.htm

[spanone]

25. somthings fishy in all this. just wierd shit. doesn't make sense.

[daleo]

26. Where was he held?

What city, what jail? How long was he held? Why was he held? Where did the FBI meet with him? When did the FBI meet with him? What did the FBI learn?

[goodhue]

28. 13 days

He was reportedly held 13 days. Your other questions are unanswered.

[skypilot]

29. Iraqi police and the FBI

And are we supposed to believe that the first people the Iraqi police would contact about their holding of Berg would be the FBI?

[daleo]

37. And would the Iraqi police hold an American for 13 days

Usually nations that occupy other nations are kind of proprietary about their people, and the authorities (such as they are) of the nation that is occupied are very aware of this fact.

Imagine a German civilian in 1942 just traipsing around France, looking for a job (as a radio repairman, no less), then being picked up and jailed by the French for two weeks. All the while, the German occupation authorities are in the dark about the whole thing.

I still wonder how he got in the country, and when and where. I mean, do you just show up at a border crossing and say "I am an American citizen, on my own, looking for a job repairing radio towers." If he didn't cross the border illegally, then there should be records.

[LetThemEatWar]

30. Shenanigans!

my bs detector went off.

[Minstrel Boy]

35. I'd like back through the looking glass now, please.

It's like night's falling out here, in the middle of the day.

This is monstrous. I'd even say it's unfuckingbelievable, except they're getting so cocksure now that they're getting sloppy.

And they'll get away with this, too. Because most decent people still balk at the notion of assets of the US government having their hands in something so sinister, and their government exploiting it.

Oil blood money make these killers ride cold
Suspicious suicides, people dyin’, never told

[DU GrovelBot]

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[rocktivity]

40. If he was never in US custody, who did Nick's parents sue?

Yesterday's reports said that Nick was released after his parents filed suit on the grounds he hadn't been charged or seen a lawyer. On the other hand, that piece of information is surprisingly absent from their public statement. Someone will have to go to the local courthouse and see if a suit was actually filed. It's looking more and more that Nick was an operative of some kind.

:headbang:
rocknation