Posted on 08/14/2004 4:43:47 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
Responsibility for the 13-day detention of Chester County businessman Nick Berg prior to his kidnapping and murder in Iraq rests largely with U.S. authorities, U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) said yesterday.
Gerlach, whose Sixth Congressional District includes the West Chester suburb where Berg lived, said it was "clear the Iraqi police were only going to hold Nick until such time as they were told by U.S. authorities that it was OK to release him."
"As to why there was that length of detention, and what could have been done to shorten it, that's a question that is still outstanding," he said.
Gerlach made his comments yesterday afternoon after a meeting with Defense Department officials that he had arranged for Berg's father, Michael.
The retired West Chester teacher had been pushing for a face-to-face accounting from Defense and other government officials since his son's detention in Iraq in the spring.
U.S. officials have repeatedly asserted that Iraqi police - not U.S. authorities - arrested and detained Nick Berg.
Michael Berg, in a telephone interview shortly after the hour-long meeting in Gerlach's office, termed the meeting largely unsatisfactory, because he felt that officials were playing "word games" over who had custody of his son - they continued to maintain Iraqi police were in charge, he said - and were unable to answer some of his questions.
But for one brief moment, Berg said, he felt something close to relief.
Across from Berg sat Lt. Col. Bill Kern, whom Gerlach's office had listed as head of the department's Criminal Investigation Command in Mosul, Iraq, while Nick Berg was detained.
During that time, Nick Berg missed his plane flight home, and violence in the country escalated. He was later kidnapped and beheaded by insurgents who posted a video of the slaying on a Web site.
Yesterday, Michael Berg looked Kern in the eye, he related later, and "I said: 'This illegal detention is what cost my son his life.' "
The confrontation, Berg later said, was "somewhat" of a relief. "I guess I just needed to say that."
Michael Berg said he would like more information about his son's death. "Who was it that first abducted him? Was it the same organization that ended up with him? Was he traded? Did anyone make any efforts to negotiate with the American government for his release?
"Not that it will make us feel any better, but somehow or other, you want to know," Berg said.
Berg said the defense officials at the meeting told him they were not the people who would have answers to those questions.
Gerlach said he also felt it was important to find out more about Nick Berg's kidnapping and murder. "We need to find out who they were, and we need to bring them to justice. It is important for this family and for this country," he said.
Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Joseph M. Yoswa said the department does not comment "on discussions between family members and officials."
However, he said, "it is an unfortunate and tragic situation. It is a stark reminder of the enemy we face and the horrific extremes they are taking to prevent those who want to help Iraqis become a free, democratic society."
Gerlach had intended for the meeting to include the FBI, which questioned Nick Berg while he was in custody, and the State Department.
However, scheduling problems prevented that, and Berg requested that they go ahead with the Defense Department meeting and try to meet with the other two agencies later.
Gerlach said the conversation also focused on why Nick Berg was not given access to a phone or a lawyer during his detention, or "given the same constitutional rights of due process" any other American would have.
Also, he said, considering that the FBI was called in from the beginning, "12 to 13 days it took for them to do their work... . My question continues to be, and the family's continues to be, why it took that long to check him out."
Gerlach said he might pursue regulatory or statutory changes. Whenever U.S. authorities have a U.S. citizen "in their actual custody or legal custody... there ought to be a standard procedure... or protocol in terms of ensuring the U.S. citizen gets all the rights he should enjoy," he said.
Gerlach said he also hoped to discover in a subsequent meeting whether Nick Berg was offered specific aid in getting out of the country - such as a particular plane flight - or was just given a general offer of help.
Michael Berg said he wonders why officials did not just force his son to leave. He said that one Defense Department official at the meeting told him "that since Nick was thought to be sane, they couldn't deprive him the right of choice of movement."
"I said: 'Well, what had just been done for 13 days if it wasn't depriving him of choice of movement?' "
Prove it.
Is this just another false premise?
Message to Michael Berg: When a person is located in a foreign country outside US reservations, that persons' rights as guaranteed by the US Constitution do not apply.
Maybe....just maybe, it's because he was in a WAR ZONE, front lines, acting very suspicious. It's a guerilla war with spies everywhere. These people are playing for keeps...on both sides and neither thinks very highly of spies. cest' la guerre
FWIW, the origin of the "story" against America is ..... the State Dept.
A copy of the actual e-mail provided to the Associated Press by the Berg family.
The email is from Beth A. Payne, a U.S. consular officer in Baghdad.
There are plenty of idiots from the loony left that have not yet been heard from.
Stick a fork in Berg, and give some others a chance to spill their bile.
From what I remember, Berg was being very irresponsible in his actions in a dangerous war zone, which included an Israeli stamp on his passport. The beheaders are responsible, not the US.
It is the terrorists who are responsible for his death. No one else is to blame.
It has been my experience not to trust the State Department as supporting W. The bias may be subtle, but it is there.
"Very confusing article." Yes it is.
Is this person using the old hat statement that if he had been released earlier or later, he would not have been killed by the terrorists?
This is like saying " I was in a bad accident but if I had left five minutes earlier, I would not have been in the accident."
It makes no sense.
Well, the persons responsible are his deceased son's almmost best friends, as he, Mr. Berg, stated when the recording of his son's beheading was first released.
I think that Nick Berg was in Iraq against all common reason. I also think that we know what his activities there were all about, and in deference to the horrific manner of his death will keep that info quiet, but if Mssr. Berg continues on this path of trying to blame his Country, while trying to 'understand' al quaeda (sp?), then I think the deference game should end.
"wonders why officials did not force his son to leave"
Then he would have been all over the news complaining that his "rights" as an American citizen to be anywhere he wanted to be were being denied. What is wrong with these idiots?
As I recall the US offered to get him out and he declined.
I think they did and he refused. I also think something is still fishy about the way berg moved around in the country and wouldn't be the least surprised if he wasn't giving a little help to sadaams loyalists in some way.
The Iraqi's had him in custody and the U.S. ... before
All that being said, the decision to go to Iraq .. for whatever reason, .. was Nick Berg's. If the U.S. 'prevented' him from being released, my experience(s) with the law (don't ask ... ) has taught me there is/was a reason.
Mr Berg sr. has had his day in court.
I'm quite sure Iraq is no place for a civilian to go to, to try to establish business or business contacts ...
not then,
not now.
(Note to self:,
Never answer the phone, talk for a few minutes, come back and (without previewing) continue on with whatever you were writing ... you might lose your train of thought ... as you just did)
That's...
Congressman Jim Gerlach Washington, D.C 1541 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202.225.4315 tel 202.225.8440 fax Chester County 1230 Pottstown Pike, Suite 4 Glenmoore, PA 19343 610.458.8010 tel 610.458.8393 fax Berks County 501 N. Park Rd Wyomissing, PA l9610 610.376.7630 tel 610.376.7633 fax Montgomery County 580 Main St. Suite #4 Trappe, PA l9426 610.409.2780 tel 610.409.7988 fax
In all likelihood, Berg was working for Michael Moore anyway. Freepers have turned up evidence that indicates Berg might have been the mole that got the Abu Grahib footage for one of Moore's upcoming "movies." Moore bragged about having it on his website, although I think he's since removed those references. However, we do know that Moore boasted of having several moles getting material for him. Berg was at Abu Grahib supposedly working on towers at one time.
If someone has to be blamed, blame Michael Moore.
Gerlach is from the next district over from mine. He's supposed to be a good strong solid conservative.
First Good Morning. If anyone is in the way of Charley stay safe please.
All of your posts are on the money. I was really shocked to even see is name in the paper, even more shocked that a republican congress critter has decided to cheerlead for the family. It is their right, but, Berg made his choices in Iraq.
martin_fierro posted #16 with contact info on this guy, so please if you have the time send a note to Gerlach
First Good Morning. If anyone is in the way of Charley stay safe please.
All of your posts are on the money. I was really shocked to even see is name in the paper, even more shocked that a republican congress critter has decided to cheerlead for the family. It is their right, but, Berg made his choices in Iraq.
martin_fierro posted #16 with contact info on this guy, so please if you have the time send a note to Gerlach
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