Posted on 05/29/2004 9:13:24 AM PDT by Dane
Posted on Sat, May. 29, 2004
Berg talks of Iraq's business potential on Michael Moore footage
JASON STRAZIUSO
Associated Press
In a 16-minute interview shot for Michael Moore's latest film, slain American Nicholas Berg talks about his travels to Africa and the work he hoped to find as an independent businessman in Iraq, Berg's brother said Saturday.
Moore's crew shot the footage at an Iraqi business conference in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 4, David Berg said. Nicholas Berg's decapitated body was found in Baghdad on May 8, and a video of his killing was posted on an Islamic militant Web site several days later.
Moore on Thursday confirmed he had footage of Berg - shot for the anti-President Bush film "Fahrenheit 9/11" - but said he would share it only with the family. Nicholas Berg's brother and sister praised Moore for that, and said they would also keep the footage private.
David Berg said it was "weird seeing Nick talk," but described the interview footage as dry. He said the first thing he noticed was that his younger brother - who was most comfortable in casual clothes - wore a suit.
"It's one of the few times I've seen him dressed up, and he looked really good," David Berg said.
The interview, which was not conducted by Moore, centered on the technical work Berg hoped to find repairing radio towers on behalf of his company, Prometheus Methods Tower Service. Berg, 26 when he died, also talks about humanitarian work he did in Uganda and Kenya.
"Nick seemed to be fairly conscious of using this thing to promote his business," David Berg said. "(The interviewer) does ask him at one point about the money and he said no one's denying there's money to be made. But it's very clear when you watch it, Nick knew he wasn't going to make a lot of money."
Moore said he had considered using some of the footage in his film but that it got edited out, David Berg said. Aware of the footage they had, some of Moore's staffers cried when they heard about Berg's death, the filmmaker told David Berg.
Moore sent copies of the footage to David Berg in New Jersey and sister Sara Berg in Virginia. Their parents will see the video after returning to their suburban Philadelphia home from vacation, David Berg said.
"Fahrenheit 9/11," which recently won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, accuses the Bush administration 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.
Given Moore's political leanings, David Berg said he was "really nervous" about what the footage of his brother might show. Nicholas Berg was in favor of bringing democracy to the Middle East, his family has said, but David Berg said his brother wasn't overtly political.
"He went to Iraq because he had certain beliefs about helping people in messed up situations, but it's not like he was trying to help the Bush administration," David Berg said.
David Berg said Moore has handled the situation with "dignity, respect and discipline."
"Michael Moore has really been a total class act with this whole thing," David Berg said. "He could have sold this to the media or stuck it in his movie."
I agree.
When I first read of this (about 30 minutes ago or so) my gut reaction was that there is a link between Michael Moore and terrorism.
I realize that it sounds wacky, but does it really? Is there any length MM would go to that would surprise us?
I'm like you; if there's no fire, where is all this smoke coming from?
The only reason Moore didn't use the footage is that he can't figure out a way to spin it against the Bush Administration. If Berg had said something like "I have to fix these telephone wires because of the idiotic lack of planning from the Chimp in the White house", it would have been front page news on the NYT from day 1.
As it is, "these people need help and I'm glad to do my part" doesn't sell leftist agitprop. Which is strange, when you consider how many decades / centuries they've been yammering on about helping the little guy.
and just what is it that they, in moore's eyes, hope to win? democracy? soveriegnty? Then why are they, and moore trying so hard to stop us from being able to facilitate that?
Conference about Iraq doesn't tell us much does it? I would be interested in who, when, and why.
Michael Berg might have been aware of this conference and informed Nick,depending on who financed the conference and it's purpose/or not.
How much money would one need to buy a round trip ticket to Iraq and was there regular airline flights into Iraq the first time Nick went there,(in March,2003?)
That is a reason for my comment about Mikey being stupid.
""Michael Moore has really been a total class act with this whole thing"
Well, Dane, that pretty much tells us where the Berg's mindset is.
Thanks for posting.
Ouch. Thanks. I missed that somehow.
As far as the conference where the clip was filmed...I'm sure had to get permisssion to film it and EVERYONE is aware of "what he is". So, why did Patriot Nick allow Moore to interview him? WHO ELSE WAS AT THE MEETING??
It's December 2003...The Bergs didn't make a move for work in Iraq till then? AND work opportunities are so well known, that it makes little sense. (The POW that just came back knew and he's a farmer).
You can't tell me that nothing has been operating for a whole year and Nick was going to make everything right. So, I'm guessing that everything WAS sufficient and the trip was a "no work" assignment from the start. So why was Nick there?
Sorry, I don't want to say anything bad about the guy. It was an awful ending. But there are too many "holes" in the scenario.
I'd like to see some video of those islamic bums beheading Michael Moore!Now that would be entertainment!That piece of anti-American garbage has no talent whatsoever except for his ability to aid and assist America's enemies!
Thanks for ping.
Striking anyone else that Berg is looking more and more like Forest Gump?
Great analogy. I hated that movie.
>> Why do you think Moore did not inform the family of this footage before it was revealed from other sources that it existed? <<
How do we know he didn't?
Well, he MIGHT have, but they *said* they were surprised to hear about it.
The brother and sister, anyway. I understand the parents are on vacation.
I realize with this crew ("He's a Bush supporter!" "He's really not political") the truth may not be what they actually say, but at this point I am going by what the parties have stated.
Stamn draight. And on top of that, if Berg had made such noises and it made Moore's final cut, there would be black helicopter implications that Berg -- an American Jew in Iraq giving aid and comfort to Michael Moore -- was steered toward Al-Qaeda by American forces for probable kidnap and murder.
As it is, "these people need help and I'm glad to do my part" doesn't sell leftist agitprop. Which is strange, when you consider how many decades / centuries they've been yammering on about helping the little guy.
That is, until what's good for the little guy is good for a conservative. Then, suddenly, "the little guy" is just part of the imperial machine that is causing all the problems.
A quick (but not quite parallel) example: pale white Bill Clinton was hailed by no less an icon of black culture than bestselling author Toni Morrison as 'the first black president.' But how often did you hear Condoleezza Rice being referred to as "the first black female National Security Advisor"?
There is nothing dignified about Michael Moore. Give me a break.
Condoleeza Rice is black? That's weird. I've never seen this reported in the Establishment media.
Are you sure you're not thinking of John Kerry or something?
bttt
Too weird. I can see this is eventually going to be like the "single bullet" account of the JFK assasination.
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