salon.com contacts DFU over FR's role in murder of Nick Berg by Islamofascist Terrorist b*st*rds

email from salon.com reporter | 5-12-04 | dfu

[doug from upland]

(Note to Admin Moderator: if trolls join this thread to disrupt it or cause problems for FR, please immediately remove stupid, foolish, numbskull, airheaded, threatening, nonsensical comments.)

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Apparently, I am in the middle of a controversy regarding the brutal murder of Nick Berg by the Islamofascist terrorist b*st*rds.

I received the following FReepmail today from a salon.com reporter and spoke to him off the record. I will either call him back on the record or he can use my comments here on the record.

Salon.com inquiry, your post on the "enemies list"
From (redacted) | 05/12/2004 11:45:13 AM PDT read

Doug,

Hello. My name is (redacted), and I'm a reporter at Salon.com. On March 7, you posted a list of signatories to an ANSWER protest; that list, which is now being discussed by a few left-leaning bloggers, includes the name of "Michael S. Berg," who is the father of Nick Berg, the man beheaded in Iraq.

It seems as if you just posted a copy of the list from the ANSWER site, but the trouble is, your list appears much longer than the one on their page. Michael Berg's name -- and many others -- is not on their page.

So I wonder if you can tell me where you got your list -- have you any idea why yours is longer than the one they have?

I also wonder what you think about the fact that you named these people enemies; do you really think they're enemies? Some people on left-leaning blogs are floating the theory that Nick Berg was detained or singled out by U.S. authorities in Iraq because of the list you posted. I wonder what you think of that idea?

I'm not trying to attack you; I'm a reporter trying to get to the bottom of this story, and it'd be great to get your input. Can you e-mail or call, or let me know where to reach you? Thanks so much.

--(redacted)
Reporter, Salon.com (phone number redacted)

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NOTE: my first suggestion was to tell the report to ask ANSWER why many of the names have been removed from that original post.

Here is my post from a few months ago -- HERE IS THE ENEMY -- they have posted their names

Here is the link for the following excerpt on an FR thread -- Beheaded Man's Firm Was On Right-Wing 'Enemies' List

Original source -- original article by Fintan Dunne

Beheaded Man's Firm Was On Right-Wing 'Enemies' List
Breakfornews.com ^ | May 12, 2004 | Fintan Dunne
Posted on 05/12/2004 12:59:00 PM PDT by Tarantulas
Beheaded Man's Firm Was On Right-Wing 'Enemies' List

The family firm of beheaded American Nick Berg, was named by a conservative website in a list of 'enemies' of the Iraq occupation. That could explain his arrest by Iraqi police --a detention which fatally delayed his planned return from Iraq and may have led directly to his death.

Nick Berg, 26 disappeared into incommunicado detention after his arrest by Iraqi police in March, 2004. He vanished again after his release 13 days later. His body was found last Saturday in Baghdad, and a video of his beheading --supposedly by a radical Islamic group-- was posted on the Internet on Tuesday.

The official story of his gruesome murder has many dubious aspects, not least the real reason why Iraqi police detained the young man at a checkpoint. New research by BreakForNews has uncovered a plausible explanation.

The FreeRepublic.com web site and forum has a reputation for right-wing views, often fanatical Republican and relentless pro-war activism.

On 7th March, 2004, just three weeks before the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, an 'enemies' list of anti-war groups and individuals was posted on the Free Republic forum.

It began: "Here you are, FReepers. Here is the enemy."

The list had been copied from publicly available endorsements of a call to action for an imminent anniversary antiwar protest on 20th March, 2004. The protest was being organized under the banner of the A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism).

Among those listed as having endorsed the call to action was this entry: "Michael S. Berg, Teacher, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, Inc."

That's Nick Berg's father, Michael who acts as business manager for his son in their family radio communications firm, Prometheus Methods Tower Service.

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Here is my immediate reaction --- what is the color of the sky in the fantasy world which Fintan Dunne calls home?

I can't wait for her next story. Let's set the scenario. Two guys are driving to the airport. Their upper radiator hose bursts, the car overheats, and they miss their flight. They get to the airport a few hours late and are able to catch the next plane. The plane crashes. Fintan Dunne headline: Pep Boys Implicated in Death of Innocent Travelers. If anyone could conceive such twisted logic, it would be Ms. Dunne. Without a defective radiator hose, they would have made it to the airport on time. Without a defective radiator hose they would not have been on the flight where the shoebomber detonated his loafers in the seat just behind the wing.

Do we have an official "enemies list"? If so, what do we do to them? Who is keeping track?

I will let you make some comments before I make additional on the record comments. Please don't be crazy. Think through your argument carefully. Some of this may appear on salon.com and we can perhaps help them get up to about 2 cents per share.

[Fintan]

Salon is only one step above Conanson or Alterman...be careful.

One step above Conason or Alterman would place you neck-deep in the middle of the manure pile that is affectionately called the "media".

[aft_lizard]

Any "lawyer" who would write and you and not state civil laws and state his name and location is not worth the crap that comes out at both ends. This sounds like a kid who wrote.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Brandon Mayfield has internet access from prison?

[Peach]

I thought Salon died sometime ago.

"The family firm of beheaded American Nick Berg, was named by a conservative website in a list of 'enemies' of the Iraq occupation. That could explain his arrest by Iraqi police --a detention which fatally delayed his planned return from Iraq and may have led directly to his death."

I heard it reported today that Nick Berg couldn't find work in Iraq, didn't have $$ to return home and refused a flight offered him by the State Department.

It's highly unlikely his detention by Iraqi police led to his death. But the left is going to try and spin it that way regardless of the facts.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

But we can't change our song!

Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
Who leaves Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs the cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscars night?
We do! We do!

[MonroeDNA]

Doug, great work, as usual. Nice outing of the changed website list of donors.

This has Hillary's stink all over it, especially the attacks on FR.

Great job.

ANSWER is hiding, covering their tracks, and independent Freepers are on the case. Nothing like cached pages....

[Rebelbase]

Salon Death Watch Bump.

[papertyger]

Snoop Dog has a slinky. I say again. SnoopDog has a slinky

[fatrat]

I think the insinuation is much more sinister here... I think what they are trying to say is that the list was posted here, read by "someone" in the government, then Nick Berg was detained in Iraq and it was discovered his father had signed the list. At that point I think they are claiming/going to claim that the U.S. (whatever agency you want to blame) had Nick Berg killed and staged it as a terrorist act, all because his father was named as an "enemy" here. That's probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever typed

It should be obvious, Dubya planned the whole thing to take the pressure off himself and Rumsfeld for the prison abuses.(sarcasm off)

[Uncle Miltie]

Too bad the enterprising reporter isn't as interested in the funding sources of International ANSWER, variously rumored to be funded by Saddam and Kim.

[SubMareener]

As of 2029 EDT 12 May 2004, the his name is on the ANSWER site

Gerald Cavanaugh, Retired Teacher
Jim MacFarlan, Retired teacher
Mele Stokesberry, retired teacher
Michael S. Berg, Retired Teacher
Sylvia Meeks, retired teacher
Beverly Combs, Retired Teacher US Gov't & American History, Retired
   Teacher
Elaine Babian, retired teacher, IFCO/Pastors for Peace

But now he is retired.

[monkeywrench]

"I think what they are trying to say is that the list was posted here, read by "someone" in the government, then Nick Berg was detained in Iraq and it was discovered his father had signed the list. At that point I think they are claiming/going to claim that the U.S. (whatever agency you want to blame) had Nick Berg killed and staged it as a terrorist act, all because his father was named as an "enemy" here"

But, I thought that's why govt. needed Patriot Act. Don't they have their own lists, now? LOL! It is ridiculous!

[PleaseNoMore]

Wow. I am amazed at this "attorney's" ethics and professionalism. /s

[isthisnickcool]

This is an absurd thread. Anyone that would want to link this site to this murder is crazy.

But, if it is true some salon "reporter" is asking questions it would not be a surprise. It's more surprising that something like this has not come up already. Anyone who thinks this site is not on the destruct list from the left needs to read "Hillary's Secret War". The forward to the book was written by JimRob.

They want to shut this place down. You know "they", "them", like in the Mel Gibson movie "Conspiracy Theory". Except "they" are people like some sloven insane drunkard that had a much to do with the death of a young woman he left to drown as these slime did murdering this young man. Birds of a feather. So, making things up about FR is not much for them. And they will be making things up. The worst is yet to come I'd guess.

[Tennessee_Bob]

It wasn't me - I still haven't gotten my decoder ring, dammit.

[Peach]

These people remind me of those terrorists hiding behind hoods.

They send "threatening mail" but are too afraid to sign their name. I'll bet Jim has had the best laugh he's had in a while.

[vandykelastone]

If the trumpet sounds and Jesus rides down on a white horse, with their last breaths, the left idiots will blame the president.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

New decoder rings will be issued.

But you do have to turn in your old one or at least 51% of it.

[MEG33]

Ask if Salon has investigated the origins of ANSWER International. See if they think it is possible ANSWER itself has spread this slander. I have investigated its cross links and supporters...on the internet. It isn't difficult.

There are many "useful idiots" who do not realize what group is supporting the bus arrangements to peace rallies. Some seem not to care who makes the arrangements.

[Cultural Jihad]

So how could someone know that two people with the name Berg were related, . . .

Here is one news report from May 8:

---

West Chester contractor missing in Iraq

. . . Nick Berg, 26, owns a business called Prometheus Methods Tower Service Inc. He climbs communications towers to inspect the antennas, the electrical connections and the structure. He first went to Iraq on Dec. 21.

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.

They spoke on March 24, and Nick Berg told his parents he was coming home on March 30. Then the communications stopped, and he wasn't on the plane on March 30.

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.'' . . .

Source

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