Posted on 05/27/2004 9:26:51 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
May 27, 2004 | Filmmaker Michael Moore filmed an interview with American Nicholas Berg in the course of producing his documentary film "Fahrenheit 9/11" before Berg left for Iraq, where he was taken hostage and killed, Moore confirmed to Salon in a statement Thursday. The 20 minutes of footage does not appear in the final version of "Fahrenheit 911," according to the statement.
Word of the footage reached Salon through a source unaffiliated with Moore or his film "Fahrenheit 9/11," which is reported to feature stark images of U.S. civilians and soldiers grappling with conditions in war-torn Iraq, as well as examining the relationship between President George W. Bush and the bin Laden family. It received the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's highest honor, on Saturday.
In a statement widely circulated by Moore's people after an initial request for comment by Salon, Moore said, "We have an interview with Nick Berg. It was approximately 20 minutes long. We are not releasing it to the media. It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family." Moore's camp declined to comment further on any aspect of the interview. Because the footage is not in the film, a spokeswoman for Miramax Films, the production company behind "Fahrenheit 9/11," said the company had no comment.
It was not clear from Moore's statement whether footage from the interview with Berg had ever been included in early cuts of "Fahrenheit 9/11." Reports about a film industry controversy surrounding distribution of the film first hit the news on May 5, a week before Berg's death. The film officially screened for the public and the press for the first time during the Cannes festival on May 17.
The news that Moore spoke to Berg while he was still in the United States only adds to the mystery surrounding the young man's presence in Iraq and tragic death. The interview was shot before the 26-year-old Berg left for Iraq late last year as a private contractor in the hopes of helping to rebuild the ravaged country. Though it was unclear what Berg spoke about in his interview with Moore, or how the two men met, unrelated reports following his death indicate that he headed for the Middle East with plans to work to improve the country's technological infrastructure and communication abilities. He ran his own company, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, in a suburb of Philadelphia.
Berg did not find employment in Iraq, and when he attempted to return to the United States he was detained by Iraqi police and questioned by American forces. He was released after his family complained. But shortly after, he is believed to have been kidnapped by Islamic terrorists. Video of his beheading was released on an Islamist Web site on May 11. Salon was unable to reach the Berg family for comment before publication.
Moore's film chronicles the United States' military, political and business involvement in the Middle East in the years before and after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His previous politically charged films, including "Roger & Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," have created controversy and won him praise (including an Oscar, for "Columbine"). "Fahrenheit 9/11" has already sparked a media storm; in early May, Miramax's parent company, Disney, announced that it would not allow Miramax to distribute the film, which is highly critical of Bush and his administration.
Miramax has yet to make a deal with a distributor, though the film's warm reception at Cannes and the publicity surrounding the film have made it a hot property that is generating a lot of interest in Hollywood. "Bowling for Columbine" grossed $21 million, making it the highest-grossing non-IMAX documentary of all time.
A source close to "Fahrenheit 9/11" said that a new distributor will be announced shortly, and that the film is expected to be released in theaters during the first week of July, as originally planned.
Prometheus Radio Project is a non-profit, I believe, that receives funds from big foundations to bring "guerrilla radio" to the Third World. Complicating the issue of finding out about it is the fact that its members use pseudonyms.
However, it has a board, and on another thread, someone had identified a "Carol Berg" as being on the board, and said that Carol was the middle name of Nick Berg's mother.
Well, at least one function of the towers is for internet access.
Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
May 23, 2004 Sunday
Soldier in Iraq drops in via Web cam feed
Iris Vacante
When Madisonville Junior High School announced that there would be a surprise guest speaker at its annual sports banquet, members of the football team and members of the community were really surprised.
The guest speaker was the football team’s assistant coach and former Madisonville student James Wells, who joined them by way of Web cam from 7,000 miles away.
With his image projected onto the gym wall, covering an area of more than 10 square feet, Wells spoke to the players from his station in Belad, Iraq, where he is serving with the Army National Guard’s 1st/244th Command Aviation Battalion.
(snip)
Wells said he was thrilled to be able to see his team, friends and neighbors, even though it was 4 a.m. in Iraq.
"I think it’s great to be able to keep in touch. It amazes me that we have the technology for me to communicate with you from 7,000 miles away. This does my soul good."
(snip)
With a wife and two sons, J.D., 14, and Mathew, 11, at home, the second lieutenant stays in touch with them on his computer.
"As long as the communication tower is not down, we talk a lot," Wendy Wells said.(snip)
thanks Howlin, that was sweet. I'm searching for the story about those 'silver wires' found on the towers in Iraq. Does that ring any bells with you?
I wonder if Drudge knows about this.
There are no coincidences, which is my point. The chance that these things coming together by coincidence is 0%
Arrrrgh!! Does that bring back the memories, or what?!
In one of Nick's emails posted on Nickberg.org (I still think there is something wierd and creepy about how that thing popped up so fast) , Nick talked about a vehicle he (actually "we" --is that wierd maybe?) had when "we" were in in Texas and Oklahoma. It seemed to imply that he was working in Tex/OK after he was in school at OU>
How did Hillary keep it all straight ?....I cant remember who James Riady was/is...
...And, according to his employee, Hollister, climbed 48 of Iraq's 110 communications towers--all in about 5 weeks.
He never got a degree, Hildy. He
transferred from Cornell to U. of
Oklahoma after his freshman yr.
But had a pattern of wanderlust,
his friends say. At OU, seems he
hung with some relatives, & some
of them by marriage were Iraqi.
I THINK this is correct. Please,
anyone, correct if mistaken.
BTW, he was quite good at his
chosen field, but no degree.
So Berg, using a webcam and a laptop, could have transmitted anything he wanted to from a tower near the prison to anywhere in the world? (Forgive me if my technologically challenged brain is showing.)
No wonder no 'tools' have been found. His 'tools' were a camera and a computer...maybe? I simply MUST find that 'silver wire' story again...
That's true. However, this could be checked, because a registered non-profit must list the names of its board members with the state.
Head of the Lippo Group in S.E. Asia, the one who rode in the back seat with Clinton and cut the deal for campaign funds.
Me too! I was there - at our rally - not ANSWERs!
Have been waiting for that to come out next. Wonder if the Feds are interested in that motel now -- I would be checking out that connection!
Yes, 1998.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.