Does he have a problem with freedom in Iraq, without it he wouldn't be able to receive his Fed Ex pkgs. As for that passport/immigration garbage, the old Iraqi government ceased to exist just over a year ago. The new Iraqi government will be in place on June 30th. So, right now its just us mean old, liberating Americans in charge. It is highly unlikely that we'd allow people to come and go at will in a war zone, operating under a Coalition Provsional Government no matter if they hold American passports or not.
It is interesting that he accidently concedes that Iraq is free, that his "free lancers" hold American pasports and speak English.
Nicholas Berg Timeline and Video analysis
Timeline of Nick Berg
Please post additions and corrections.
1999:
While attending a course at a remote campus of the University of Oklahoma near an airport, Nick Berg gave his email account and password to a student on a bus who may have been an acquaintance of Moussaoui . That email account was later used by Zacarias Moussaoui, a 911 suspect who attended flight school in Oklahoma in February 2001. Mr. Berg was unaware the person had terrorist ties.
CNN
The director of the The University of Oklahoma is David L. Boren, mentor of CIA director George Tenet.
George Tenet
David Boren
April/May 2000:
Lt. Bruce Chan of the university police at the Norman, Okla., campus, said yesterday by phone that Berg was busted twice for apparently living at the student union center - after he was no longer enrolled as a student.
Chan said that, after receiving complaints from staffers at the Oklahoma Memorial Union that Berg was camped out there, police issued a warning and then twice arrested him for trespassing, a misdemeanor. He said the arrests were in April and May 2000, but Chan didn't have exact dates.
Philly.com (subscription)
2000/2001
Nick Berg is listed as a public events attendant at Lloyd Noble center at Oklahoma University
INN
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/images/bergOK1.gif
2001 or 2002:
The FBI contacts Nick Berg and questions him about the incident after his computer password turned up in Moussaoui's belongings. They cleared Berg of any terrorist links.
Chron.com
March 2003
Nick Berg’s father, Michael Berg participates in an anti-war rally.
Michael Berg belonged to an organization called ANSWER, or Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism.
Timed Herald
December 21 2003
Nicholas goes to Iraq to look for work.
He also travels to Mosul to visit an Iraqi who was the brother of a man who had married his late aunt.
Jan 4 2004
He sends an email and describes working on towers near Abu Ghraib
Duluth Superior
His Email
January 18 2004
He sends another email where he mentions he was arrested and released.
Duluth Superior
He also states that his company had been announced as an approved subcontractor for a broadcast consortium awarded a contract for the U.S.-controlled Iraqi Media Network.
Guardian
February 1 2004
He leaves Iraq.
March 7 2004
The freerepublic website provides a list of persons under the heading HERE IS THE ENEMY -- they have posted their names
On that list is Michael S. Berg, Teacher, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, Inc.,
Freerepublic
BreakForNnews
March 14 2004
Nick travels back to Iraq to look for work for his company, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, Inc.
March 24 2004
He contacts his parents and tells them he will return to the States on March 30th.
That same day, he is arrested near a checkpoint in Mosul by Iraqi officials.
They find an Israeli stamp in his passport.
They also find a copy of the Koran and other literature.
Philly.com
March 26 2004
The first of three FBI questionings during his detainment.
Thestate.com
March 31 2004
FBI agents inform Nick’s parents that their son is alive but is in jail following an arrest.
Thestate.com
April 1 2004
Nick’s parents receive an email stating:
““I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul. He is safe. He was picked up approximately one week ago. We will try to obtain additional information regarding his detention and a contact person you can communicate with directly,””
Thestate.com
April 5 2004
Nick’s parents file a suit demanding the release of their son.
April 6 2004.
Nicholas is released.
He goes back to his hotel and tells a United Press International photographer about his arrest.
“"Nick told me that he was held for a few hours by the police and then taken to a U.S. military base and held for almost two weeks by the U.S. military. He repeatedly said he was held in the [Coalition Provisional Authority] jail in Mosul for two weeks," Mr. Infante said.”
Washington Times
April 9 2004
He contacts his parents and says he will try to come home by way of Jordan, Turkey or Kuwait.
USA today
April 10 2004
A State Department spokeswoman said a U.S. consular official in Iraq spoke with Berg on April 10 and offered to "assist him in departing Iraq by plane" for Jordan. She said Berg declined and said he planned to travel overland to Kuwait.
Seattle Times
His father said his son e-mailed him that he didn't want to travel to the airport because he believed it was too dangerous. American soldiers refer to the airport highway as "RPG Alley" because of frequent attacks by insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades.
Christian Science Monitor
His family and friends do not hear from him after that date.
April 19 2004
Three calls were made from his phone — to Jordan, to the United Arab Emirates and to a local number. No confirmation of whether it was him or someone who had taken his phone.
USA Today
May 7 2004
An email from his parents is posted on a yahoo news groups asking for anyone with information on their sons dissaperance to come forward.
Email on Yahho Group
May 8 2004.
His body is found on a Baghdad highway overpass.
“The body found on the overpass was identified as Nick Berg, 26, of West Chester, Pa., a self-employed civilian contractor. Berg's body, with signs of trauma, was found Saturday, the military said. “
USA today
May 10 2004
His parents are informed of his death.
May 11 2004
The news media reports the decapitation of Nicholas Berg and the posting of the video on al-ansar.biz
“The Web site said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a top ally of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was the man who cut off Berg's head. The statement read out before the killing was signed off with Zarqawi's name and dated May 11.”
Reuters
Iraqi police have said they did not arrest Berg.
Bloomberg
The US says they did not detain Berg but that Iraqi police did.
Washington Post
Moore is an unscrupulous, media savvy enemy of the Bush administration. During the runup to a critical election he is capable of anything, including exploiting the beheading of Nick Berg, possibly even with the blessing of the Berg family. He may simply be baiting the FBI, hoping they try to interview him so he then can cry "HARASSMENT," play the victim and point to the Patriot Act as an un-American anti-freedom instrument in the hands of Der Fuhrer George W. Bush and his henchman John Ashcroft.
If that is the case, then of course the best way to handle the situation is to ignore him.
Like I say, some of the speculation on the thread is intriguing, but it's prudent to consider the possibility that Moore purposely set a hidden agenda in motion the moment Salon published this story.