Nick Berg's Killing: 50 Fishy Circumstances, Contradictory Claims, and Vid

[Nlighten1]

Nick Berg's Killing: 50 Fishy Circumstances, Contradictory Claims, and Videotape Anomalies

http://www.kuro5hin.org/print/2004/5/15/22827/0477

The video of the killing has many flaws including problems with time skips, audio dubbing, and the characteristics, appearance and speech of Berg and the killers. People from Middle Eastern cultures believe that Middle Eastern people were not involved in this video, based on the mannerisms, accents, behavior and appearance of the killers. A close inspection of the video suggests that Westerners may have been involved.

For a number of reasons, it does not appear that the Jordanian terrorist Abu Masab Al-Zaraqawi, who was voice identified by the CIA (and whose name was on the tape), was involved. He has a poorly functioning prosthetic leg and a hand tattoo, which should have been observed. Neither were. The accent of the speaker in the video was not Jordanian. Why has the CIA seemingly lied about the analysis of Al-Zarqawi's voice and his role in the killing?

Considering the many discrepancies and contradictions noted below, it seems possible that the Berg killing is a poorly crafted psy-ops exercise. This video was possibly constructed by U.S. operatives to impact the extremely volatile political developments in the U.S. and the international condemnation around the Abu Ghraib torture photos. The torture photos are mentioned in the speech in the video, though Berg may have been killed before the photos were circulated.

The majority of the points below are summarized and excerpted from eight summary articles that culled points from news articles and blog posts. (See links at end.) I compared, combined and edited the various points. Further, I added more points based on my viewing of the video (see Wizbang! Blog: Berg video site list) and by reviewing various news articles. I also added a few points based on comments at kuro5hin.org.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. An autospy would establish

how long Berg had been dead when they found him.

I still would like to know how they were able to ID a headless body so quickly?

[gandalf]

3. Recognizing a headless body? What do you think

how they recognize Bush each morning?

That's routine for them.

[ima_sinnic]

4. it must be that the head was left with the body

... the Berg family mentioned early on that they had been informed that their son had been decaptitated--this was before the video appeared. I searched in vain for some mention of the corpse's condition when it was discovered. All articles, from the same AP source, say merely that it "showed signs of trauma." The articles do mention that it is an American civilian, not connected to the military OR private contractor. Google ("body was found" overpass Baghdad) to see this same story repeated over and over.

Alternatively, it might be that some identification was left on him--a passport or something. Of course, without a head the ID would not be conclusive proof of his identity.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Here's the earliest report that I've been able to find

of Nick Berg's murder. Keep in mind that no one knew about the video yet. There is no mention of him being beheaded, only that there were 'signs' of trauma? I'd say losing your head is pretty traumatic?

According to this story, the body was found on Saturday May 8th. Four days latter the press knows who he is and that his family has been notified but no mention of the horrific condition of the body or how they were able to tell it was him?

Then on Tues. May 11th, the video appears and the whole thing takes on a new dimension.

Even now there is little offical news on this case. I have no clue if there is an investigation? Who is in charge of it if there is one? And who, when and where was the autopsy done? Did they even do an autopsy? In the US, an autopsy is mandatory in the case of a murder.



http://www.boston.com/dailynews/132/world/Body_found_on_Baghdad_overpa...

Body found on Baghdad overpass identified as that of American

By Louis Meixler, Associated Press, 5/11/2004 11:36

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) Relatives and U.S. officials said Tuesday a body found on a Baghdad highway overpass was that of an American civilian contract worker missing since April 9 the same day insurgents attacked a U.S. convoy west of the capital.

<snip>

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.

The family was informed Monday of his death.

[Q]

2. Looks like the 'new cycle' is about to end on this story...

...mostly because Americans have such a short term memory that another story will take its place by weeks end.

- Yes...there are numerous 'unanswered questions' regarding the Berg case...but since when has this government felt compelled to answer questions? Just as with the dozens of other (active) scandals...the Bushies will shrug it off and say it's being 'taken care of' somehwere in the halls of (their) congress.

- And here we are...still wondering who outted a CIA agent and what happened to the Iraq intel and the 9-11 commissions.

[ima_sinnic]

5. I really believe these discrepancies are the reason

the beheading is getting relatively little media coverage. It seems almost as if there is a polite embarassment at dwelling on something so uncredible and amateurish. like, *cough cough* sure George, "al-Zarqawi" did it (looking away while biting lips)--but they need to DO THEIR JOB and follow up on these doubts!

By contrast, wasn't the believable Pearl murder covered in depth and repeatedly? Also of note: I believe the video of Pearl's execution was almost immediately banned from being played, unlike that of Berg's which is as far as I know still accessible.

[keithyboy]

7. #24 and #45 are the reasons these observations will get NO US attention

This is a very damning document, any two points of which would be enough for Congress to call for and investigation but it will never happen. I believe the points 24 & 45 are the reasons the media will ignore information like this and Congress won't touch it!

You have to remember, there were reports about US and Israeli special ops operating inside Iraq since early 2001..long before 9/11.