How about just plain stupid. You're unemployeed, how do you get to Iraq, how do you find a job, where does the cash come from? Was this his business plan?
1) Go to Iraq
2) ?
3) Profit!
I've read some posts on Tower Pro and it appears Nick was there for legitimate reasons.He had a business here in the states and others on that site testify to him doing work for them.Looks like his dad was GM of the business and they had some innovative ideas about how to improve communications in countries where the infrastructure was somewhat weak. Just because someone's biz name isn't registered,doesn't mean a thing.He could have had the business set up as D.B.A. or just didn't go through the "correct" channels to incorporate.
Looks like he was working on a presentation to show the guys back home what the conditions were over there.(as in communication tower destruction)That probably had alot to do with why he was seen using his laptop very often.