I understand the various & sundry possibilities we've been kicking around - but I still don't know who Berg was contracting his services out to.
It is quite possible that your scenario is real; but we are apparently still totally in the dark as to his contacts and his seemingly successful search for non-sanctioned work, in a war zone populated by people he could not talk with; people who don't like strangers, and who really don't like Jewish strangers.
Anyone who can find a link to whomever Berg was doing work for will earn my paranoia driven thanks and respect.
And a tip o' the tinfoil hat.
One thing I feel safe in predicting is that the Prometheus books will not show enough income to support Nick's travels.
The left will be sorry they sent everyone to FR. There is something rotten the the Berg household.