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.
Is there a Nick Berg ping list??????
If not, we sure need one!
Exactly! It doesn't add up -- think the key is that Moussaoui was probably in the Country and here in Norman much sooner than was reported originally IMHO. To meet Moussaoui on a bus (think there was more than that), Berg would have been back here in Feb 2001 until that summer sometime OR Moussaoui was here in Norman to visit way before his "supposed" arrival in Feb 2001! OU switched over to a new email system and scrubbed all email accounts in between Berg's "supposed" time in Norman and Moussaoui's "supposed" arrival. No way would Berg who was no longer a student have had that email account. Everyone had to resign up -- had two kids there at the time. You had to provide your student ID# which was checked to see if you were still a student. One of my son's friends was taking a semester at another college (grades) and couldn't keep his OU email account.
Daddy Berg, IIRC, put that business's name in an ANSWER protest letter/petition."
That doesn't make sense. I doubt it would even occur to the Dad to do such an odd thing. Would you think of signing your kid's name to a petition? Or his (unknown) company? Probably this is an indicator that Nick was in support of ANSWER
Exactly!
Moore had Berg get with AlQueda (or vice versa)...they did the "film in the orange jumpsuit" thing with Nick IN ON IT....and then the AlQueda Actually DID behead Nick so he would never turn on them and give out any info he had on them. I believe Berg knew a LOT of AlQueda...beginning with Moussoui in OKC.
Why else would Berg's father say "they killed their best friend" and he was talking about AlQueda!!
1999, I think.
If you start one, please add my name.
Way too many "coincidences." My son had told me the college newspaper was going to break a major story before school was out on Berg -- one of the editors is in his fraternity, but it was embargoed -- they are still sitting on it is my understanding. Don't know if they will run it this summer or not.
Good morning and thanks PKM!
Howlin, this data from PKM might expand your tin foil chapeau or tighten it around your head.
Did you people stay up all night? I have SUCH a migraine this morning. The ol' eyes hate computers, which is why I'm not around much of late. Nothing on Rush yet about this.
Has ANYONE contacted The reporterette on this piece, Rebecca Traister?? Can anyone??
I started putting the info I have on here with my suspicions! :)
"Please someone stick a microphone in the direction of that big gaping maw and ask, "Mr. Moore, what did you know about Berg's activities in Iraq and when did you know it?"
Or was Nick Berg one of your in Iraq people that you bragged about.
Michael Berg signed his own name and put the country on that petition, not Nick.
I knew that you would have the OK angle covered like white on rice!
Many here need this for more comprehensive Berg stuff in a single post:
The Berg Beheading- some links: (Thanks backhoe !!!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1133927/posts
I just added this thread. Perhaps someone would care to add yesterday's thread I missed to this, too.
Berg's body came through Dover. Berg was making a stink that he couldn't go on base to get the body (not allowed for any relatives, eiither). I bet THEY did some tests.
Interesting. Wish someone could get their hands on it, if they decide not to publish.
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