Posted on 05/27/2004 12:53:36 PM PDT by Tamzee
Filmmaker Moore Says He Has Berg Footage
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Filmmaker Michael Moore, whose incendiary new documentary lambastes President Bush's handling of the war, said Thursday that he has footage unused in the film of Nicholas Berg, the American civilian later beheaded in Iraq.
The footage, of an interview with Berg, "is approximately 20 minutes long. We are not releasing it to the media," Moore said in a statement. "It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family."
Neither Moore nor his representatives would describe the nature or contents of the interview with Berg, who held staunch pro-war views.
No one answered the phone Thursday at the home of Berg's parents in West Chester, Pa.
"Fahrenheit 9/11," which recently won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, accuses the Bush camp of stealing the 2000 election, overlooking terrorism warnings before Sept. 11, 2001, and fanning fears of more attacks to secure American support for the Iraq war.
Moore's assault on U.S. policy got him into trouble with Disney, which refused to let subsidiary Miramax release "Fahrenheit 9/11." He is still trying to work out a deal for U.S. distribution.
Nope. How are we to know if the tape fat boy has has any bearing on the investigation without him releasing it to the authorities. If he refuses charge him with hindering an investigation, but I think he will roll over pretty quickly-fat boy would not do well in jail-and he has to know that this is a dangerous and serious game he is playing. Any publicity he gets is small potatoes compared to the win-win the tape is for the good guys; if Berg is pro-war it nullifies the lunatic ranting of his father, if he is anti-war it opens up speculation about how he came into contact with the terrorists. Either way, I'm serious about winning the war on terrorism and I'm not above using this tape to shore up the war effort.
Moore would love to be on the receiving end of the Ashcroft Dept. of Justice.
Michael Moore's perverse brand of fame may be peaking right about now, but for him it's still a win-win situation: he could ask for nothing better than to attract the attention and enmity of this Administration he's done everything he can to weaken. An aggressive investigation of Moore and how and where he got the film would be seen as proof positive of this Administration's repressive position on Free Speech, civil rights, etc. etc. This is why Michael Moore will be left alone.
If the interview was conducted in the United States, the question is WHY? Who had ever heard of this guy to interview him? How did Michael Moore get his name?
If the interview was conducted in Iraq, then the FBI needs to see it because of where the interview was done, who did it, any mentions of contacts or trips Berg might have made. In addition, it would be helpful to know who in Iraq was filming for Michael Moore.
I would expect the FBI to subpoena the tape and examine it for content and editing. I would also expect that if Moore gives it to Michael Berg, Michael Berg will get a subpoena.
No, he will get funding from ANSWER through Bergs father to smear GWB and the nation further.
I think you have it exactly backwards: the tape is win-win for supporters of the war effort. If it shows a pro-war Berg, then it undermines his father's hysterical finger pointing and makes him a martyr. If it shows an anti-war Berg, then it opens the door for questions about how he came into contact with the terrorists (and also demonstrates that he was about as wrong as could be in the process). The publicity fat boy gets from this-let's face it his audience is limited to lefty true believers and the French-is small potatoes compared to how the good guys stand to profit.
Moore announced the existence of the tape. That alone should raise a red flag. He is a media savvy, highly unscrupulous individual who undoubtedly is thinking a few steps ahead, and of course he is looking to damage Bush. It's naive to think that he didn't begin executing a hidden agenda the moment he made the announcement.
What could he possibly know about Berg's death? He was not there when the poor man had his head sliced off.
My guess is thw data on the tape is totally benign, meaningless and extraneous to the investigation. If it was something that could actually get him into trouble do you think he'd be announcing it? Hell no.
He is baiting the FBI, hoping to get them to do something stupid so he then cry "HARASSMENT!" and make a big splash in the media about how the Patriot Act is stripping us of all our freedoms. The FBI should not rise to the bait.
Ignore him.
See my Post #127.
Thanks-I really wonder if Mikey understands what a dangerous game he is playing. My experience is that millionaire lefties tend to be insulated from the harsh realities of the world. If any of this is true, I doubt that even the hard-left press would stand behind him for very long.
Now, I suppose it could have been Michael Berg who told Salon. And I agree that the FBI should tread cautiously. BUT Michael Moore had better be treading cautiously, too. He could be close to breaking the law.
I think Moore is about to give himself a big black eye-we should do everything we can to put a spotlight on that shiner.
It sounds like the government gave the rest of the tape to the family and then the family, in true liberal form, handed it over to Moore so he could make the most political hay from. What a way to honor your son.
I didn't read the story on Salon-it could be I guess. I'll go check it out and see if it gives any indication one way or the other.
Moore's assault on U.S. policy got him into trouble with Disney, which refused to let subsidiary Miramax release "Fahrenheit 9/11."
The media's still running that lie? They are this asshat's willing tools.
So, what is the real story, why no release? I hope it never sees the light of day out of the can-can festival.
Moore...slimeball
Someone? Someone sent by Mr. Moore perhaps? Miss Marple, someone of your high intelligence and investigative chops should not be deceived by Moore's method of getting an item into the news media. Any PR hack in Hollywood can tell you that anonymous "someones" are often the best couriers.
Of course we want to spotlight his shiner, the operative word being his as opposed to ours. It's important to tread carefully around as unscrupulous a bozo as Michael Moore.
Couldn't get past the short blurb that advertised the story. Wouldn't subscribe and couldn't get the ad to work, but I think there is probably something to what you say.
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