Diplomat's Emails Show Berg in US Custody

AP ^ | 5/13/04

[11th Earl of Mar]

By JASON STRAZIUSO Associated Press Writer

May 13, 2004, 2:39 PM EDT

WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- A U.S. diplomatic official in Iraq told the family of slain American Nicholas Berg in early April that he was being detained by the U.S. military, according to e-mails provided by the family Thursday.

U.S. government officials have said Berg, who was found dead last weekend in Baghdad, was detained by Iraqi police March 24 and was never in the custody of American forces.

He is believed to have been kidnapped within days of his April 6 release by either Iraqi police or coalition forces, and later beheaded by militants who videotaped the slaying.

To back its claims that Berg was in U.S. custody, the family showed The Associated Press an April 1 e-mail from Beth A. Payne, the U.S. consular officer in Iraq.

"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," the e-mail said.

In two e-mails later that day, Payne wrote that she was still trying to find a local contact for the family.

Berg's brother, David Berg, called on the government to come clean about its contacts with the slain American before he died. The family has blamed the government for keeping him in custody for too long while anti-American violence escalated in Iraq.

[saquin]

Thanks for the link.

[MizSterious]

He appears to have been friends with Zaqawie (I am sure I spelled that wrong, but I don't know the correct spelling) who was once thought to be the 20th hijacker. He allowed him to use his computer to send email.

[Williams]

So America will fall for the latest disinformation. His having been held in cutody has about zero to do with his capture and beheading by the terrorists. He was in Iraq totally on his own choice, stayed there after release, was killed by Al Queda. Sadly, the father (unlike the son) is an anti Bush Marxist and bizarrely NOT blaming the animals who cut his own son's head off.

[moehoward]

hmmmmmmm.....bump

[MizSterious]

I think the Bergs are using their dead son badly. He is just a tool now for Berg's hatred of the President. He's a disgrace.

[MizSterious]

He also cozied up with the "20th hijacker" whilst at O.U. in Norman Oklahoma. Enough so that he let the guy use his computer for emails. The FBI reportedly interviewed him just after 9/11 because of this. He seems to have something of a history with this sort of thing. I wonder just who he was building communications towers for...

[gathersnomoss]

If this man is any indicator as to those who would vote for Anybody But Bush, it should make those folks think about there own beliefs. This mans son just had his head removed by Islamic Terrorists, Not Bush!

We are in for one hell of a revolt amongst those who side with this man and those who don't. Unbelievable. What are they thinking? It is as though I woke up from a 40 year nap and ended up on a planet that was on the verge of a total religious uprising.

Hmmm, the end may be closer than I thought. Film at 11.

[MizSterious]

I have no link to a story, but it's been all over the Oklahoma news, since this is where the two met up.

[MineralMan]

"He also cozied up with the "20th hijacker" whilst at O.U. in Norman Oklahoma. Enough so that he let the guy use his computer for emails. The FBI reportedly interviewed him just after 9/11 because of this. "

If true, this is exceedingly strange, and may put a new color on the entire thing. I guess we'll have to wait to see what develops.

[TomGuy]

They aren't just blaming the administration, the brother told them to "come clean".

Sorry to burst your bubble, but in another thread that got pulled, Senior Berg said specifically it was GWB's fault his son got killed.

If you read some of the many other posts yesterday and today about Senior Berg, you will see that he is laying blame with the Administration.

[COBOL2Java]

While his family was anti-war, he himself was a supporter of the war. Or so I have read.

I don't know about that one. I smell a Democrat / media spin there. Could be part of that so-called "silver bullet" they are all so hopeful for.

[weegee]

Media BiaS

There is no mention that he was offered a plane out of there which he refused. He wanted to leave by ground.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

I don't blame the victim for getting kidnapped, that was the work of evil terrorists (despite Michael Moore saying they weren't terrorists).

I also don't blame the US government or the Iraqi government for detaining him. He was a stranger in a combat zone without a larger support mechanism (no employer/bodyguard/etc.). The security of the citizenry and the troops is crucial. We are in a war even if the media doesn't like it.

[monkeywrench]

What I meant was, the accusations are above and beyond blaming the administration. The tactics are too familiar. Their in cya mode.

[TomGuy]

I wonder just who he was building communications towers for...

Yesterday, as more information was published, an increasing shroud of mystery has arisen about Nick Berg.

More questions than answers seem to point to suspicious activity.

Berg was voluntarily in Iraq two different times.
He was warned to leave by FBI/authorities on two or maybe even three recent occasions.
Berg refused free air exit to Kuwait. Instead, he 'chose' to travel by vehicle to Jordan.
Now, email and cell phone records seem to connect him to one or more terrorists.

hmmmmm

[ALASKA]

He appears to have been friends with Zaqawie (I am sure I spelled that wrong, but I don't know the correct spelling) who was once thought to be the 20th hijacker. He allowed him to use his computer to send email.

Are you talking about Nick Berg here? Where did this info come from?

[John Lenin]

The whole story is fishy so far.

[MizSterious]

Read further, please, and I explain where I heard it. In fact, Fox is at this very intstant repeating it on television. But I did have the terrorist's name wrong; it's Zacarias Moussawie.

[John H K]

Yep.

Things are certainly getting weird.

I really wonder about the whole idea that Nick Berg supported Bush; seems to be based on flimsy evidence.

Also seems like both ends of the political spectrum are trying to spin things to their own ends.

[FITZ]

And I just now found out there is an uncle in Iraq.

Yes that does seem suspicious somehow --- an Arab uncle married to a Jewish aunt? And he had no clear cut role that we know of to be in Iraq.

[IamHD]

It was not Zarqawi...FOX just reported that Nick Berg "coincidentally" had some sort of ties with 9/11 terrorist, Moussawi. (I know the spelling is wrong.) :)