Gerlach: U.S. Responsible For Nick Berg's Detention

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | August 14, 2004 | Sandy Bauers

[Former Military Chick]

Very confusing article. Not sure about this congressman, though.

[evad]

Responsibility for the 13-day detention of Chester County businessman Nick Berg prior to his kidnapping and murder in Iraq rests largely with U.S. authorities, U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) said yesterday............ Gerlach, whose Sixth Congressional District includes the West Chester suburb where Berg lived, said it was "clear the Iraqi police were only going to hold Nick until such time as they were told by U.S. authorities that it was OK to release him."

Prove it.

Is this just another false premise?

[Ken522]

Message to Michael Berg: When a person is located in a foreign country outside US reservations, that persons' rights as guaranteed by the US Constitution do not apply.

[joebuck]

"Gerlach said the conversation also focused on why Nick Berg was not given access to a phone or a lawyer during his detention, or "given the same constitutional rights of due process" any other American would have."

Maybe....just maybe, it's because he was in a WAR ZONE, front lines, acting very suspicious. It's a guerilla war with spies everywhere. These people are playing for keeps...on both sides and neither thinks very highly of spies. cest' la guerre

[Diogenesis]

Berg was murdered by terrorists who apparently were not sensitive.
Where is their mention, or anger against the barbarians?

FWIW, the origin of the "story" against America is ..... the State Dept.

A copy of the actual e-mail provided to the Associated Press by the Berg family.
The email is from Beth A. Payne, a U.S. consular officer in Baghdad.

[G.Mason]

The entire world has heard quite enough from Michael Berg!

There are plenty of idiots from the loony left that have not yet been heard from.

Stick a fork in Berg, and give some others a chance to spill their bile.

[tkathy]

From what I remember, Berg was being very irresponsible in his actions in a dangerous war zone, which included an Israeli stamp on his passport. The beheaders are responsible, not the US.

[Jemian]

Berg was murdered by terrorists who apparently were not sensitive...
FWIW, the origin of the "story" against America is ..... the State Dept

It is the terrorists who are responsible for his death. No one else is to blame.

It has been my experience not to trust the State Department as supporting W. The bias may be subtle, but it is there.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"Very confusing article." Yes it is.
Is this person using the old hat statement that if he had been released earlier or later, he would not have been killed by the terrorists?

This is like saying " I was in a bad accident but if I had left five minutes earlier, I would not have been in the accident."
It makes no sense.

[AlbionGirl]

"We need to find out who they were, and we need to bring them to justice. It is important for this family and for this country,"

Well, the persons responsible are his deceased son's almmost best friends, as he, Mr. Berg, stated when the recording of his son's beheading was first released.

I think that Nick Berg was in Iraq against all common reason. I also think that we know what his activities there were all about, and in deference to the horrific manner of his death will keep that info quiet, but if Mssr. Berg continues on this path of trying to blame his Country, while trying to 'understand' al quaeda (sp?), then I think the deference game should end.

[freeangel]

"wonders why officials did not force his son to leave"

Then he would have been all over the news complaining that his "rights" as an American citizen to be anywhere he wanted to be were being denied. What is wrong with these idiots?

[dalebert]

As I recall the US offered to get him out and he declined.

[freeangel]

I think they did and he refused. I also think something is still fishy about the way berg moved around in the country and wouldn't be the least surprised if he wasn't giving a little help to sadaams loyalists in some way.

[knarf]

Nick Berg's 'purpose' in Iraq has been bandied about since we first learned of him.
I admit, I don't have a clear handle on him, but this article seems to imply that the U.S. too, was trying to determine that.

The Iraqi's had him in custody and the U.S. ... before

All that being said, the decision to go to Iraq .. for whatever reason, .. was Nick Berg's. If the U.S. 'prevented' him from being released, my experience(s) with the law (don't ask ... ) has taught me there is/was a reason.

Mr Berg sr. has had his day in court.

I'm quite sure Iraq is no place for a civilian to go to, to try to establish business or business contacts ...

not then,

not now.

[knarf]

"The Iraqi's had him in custody and the U.S. ... before "

(Note to self:,
Never answer the phone, talk for a few minutes, come back and (without previewing) continue on with whatever you were writing ... you might lose your train of thought ... as you just did)

[martin_fierro]

Responsibility for the 13-day detention of Chester County businessman Nick Berg prior to his kidnapping and murder in Iraq rests largely with U.S. authorities, U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) said yesterday.

That's...

Congressman Jim Gerlach

Washington, D.C
1541 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.4315 tel
202.225.8440 fax

Chester County
1230 Pottstown Pike, Suite 4
Glenmoore, PA 19343
610.458.8010 tel
610.458.8393 fax

Berks County
501 N. Park Rd
Wyomissing, PA l9610
610.376.7630 tel
610.376.7633 fax

Montgomery County
580 Main St. Suite #4
Trappe, PA l9426
610.409.2780 tel
610.409.7988 fax

[MizSterious]

In all likelihood, Berg was working for Michael Moore anyway. Freepers have turned up evidence that indicates Berg might have been the mole that got the Abu Grahib footage for one of Moore's upcoming "movies." Moore bragged about having it on his website, although I think he's since removed those references. However, we do know that Moore boasted of having several moles getting material for him. Berg was at Abu Grahib supposedly working on towers at one time.

If someone has to be blamed, blame Michael Moore.

[old and tired]

Gerlach is from the next district over from mine. He's supposed to be a good strong solid conservative.

[Former Military Chick]

First Good Morning. If anyone is in the way of Charley stay safe please.

All of your posts are on the money. I was really shocked to even see is name in the paper, even more shocked that a republican congress critter has decided to cheerlead for the family. It is their right, but, Berg made his choices in Iraq.

martin_fierro posted #16 with contact info on this guy, so please if you have the time send a note to Gerlach

[Former Military Chick]

First Good Morning. If anyone is in the way of Charley stay safe please.

All of your posts are on the money. I was really shocked to even see is name in the paper, even more shocked that a republican congress critter has decided to cheerlead for the family. It is their right, but, Berg made his choices in Iraq.

martin_fierro posted #16 with contact info on this guy, so please if you have the time send a note to Gerlach