Killing of Nick Berg: Difference between revisions

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			{{Short description\|American repairman taken hostage and killed in Iraq (1978–2004)}}
	]]]
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=May 2014}}
			{{Infobox person
			\| name = Nick Berg
			\| image =
			\| alt = A photo of a young Caucasian man with glasses and a buzzcut smiling, looking a little to the right of the camera.
			\| caption = Nick Berg attending an engineering conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania in October 2003
			\| birth_name = Nicholas Evan Berg
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|mf=yes\|1978\|4\|2}}
			\| birth_place = ], ], U.S.
			\| death_date = {{death date and age\|mf=yes\|2004\|05\|7\|1978\|4\|2}}
			\| death_place = ], ]
			\| death_cause = ]
			\| resting_place = Montefiore Cemetery, ], U.S.
			\| occupation = Freelance radio-tower repairman
			\| parents = ], Suzanne Berg
			}}
			'''Nicholas Evan Berg''' (April 2, 1978 – May 7, 2004) was an American freelance ] repairman<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/us/sons-death-in-iraq-prompts-bid-for-congress.html \|title= Son's Death in Iraq Prompts Bid for Congress \|last= Urbina \|first= Ian \|author-link=Ian Urbina \|date= March 29, 2006 \|access-date= January 22, 2018 \|newspaper= ]}}</ref> who went to ] after the ]. He was abducted and ] according to a video released in May 2004 by Islamist militants in response to the ] involving the ] and Iraqi prisoners. The ] claimed Berg was murdered by ].<ref>{{cite news\|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3712421.stm \|title= 'Zarqawi' beheaded US man in Iraq \| work =BBC News\|date=May 13, 2004 \|access-date=March 18, 2010}}</ref> The decapitation video was released on the internet, reportedly from London to a Malaysian-hosted homepage by the Islamist organization ].<ref>{{cite news \|url= http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/28/1085641717320.html \|title=SMH \|date=29 May 2004\|access-date= March 18, 2010}}</ref>

			== Early life and education ==
	'''Nicholas Evan Berg''' (], ] – ], ]) was an ] ] seeking ]s work in ] during the ]. He was abducted and later beheaded in May 2004 by ]ic militants. The ] claimed that ] personally beheaded Berg.
			Berg was born in ] and grew up in ], a suburb of ].<ref name="nytimes2004">{{cite news \|first1=James \|last1=Dao \|first2= Richard Lezin \|last2=Jones \|first3=Christine \|last3=Hauser \|first4=Eric \|last4=Lichtblau \|author4-link= Eric Lichtblau \|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/world/visions-suspicions-entrepreneur-tracing-civilian-s-odd-path-his-gruesome-fate.html \|title=Visions & suspicions: the entrepreneur; Tracing a Civilian's Odd Path To His Gruesome Fate in Iraq \|location= Iraq \|newspaper=] \|date=May 26, 2004 \|access-date=March 4, 2015}}</ref> He was referred to as a "religious Jew."<ref name="nytimes2004"/>

			Berg graduated from ] in ] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25401-2004May13.html \|title=Beheading Victim 'Loved Adventure and Risk' \|work=washingtonpost.com \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/friends-kin-mourn-berg/ \|title=Friends, Kin Mourn Berg \|publisher=Fox News \|date=2004-05-12 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> In 1996, he was a student at ]<ref name="thedp2004">{{cite web\|url=http://www.thedp.com/article/2004/05/phila._man_beheaded_in_iraq_linked_to_penn_drexel \|title=The Daily Pennsylvanian :: Phila. man beheaded in Iraq linked to Penn, Drexel \|publisher=] \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> but later dropped out.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite web\|author1=LAURA MANSNERUS \|author2=JAMES DAO \|name-list-style=amp \|others = Laura Mansnerus reported from West Whiteland Township for this article and James Dao from Washington. Contributing reporting were Jessica Bruder from West Whiteland Township and Thomas J. Lueck and Sabrina Tavernise from New York \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/12/world/struggle-for-iraq-family-strange-encounter-with-iraqi-police-fatal-capture.html \|title=The Struggle for Iraq – The Family – From Strange Encounter With Iraqi Police to Fatal Capture by Islamic Terrorists \|location=Mosul, Iraq \|work=] \|date=2004-05-12 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> He took classes at ] in 1998,<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://articles.philly.com/2004-05-15/news/25381697_1_kesher-israel-nicholas-e-berg-memorial-service \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020213952/http://articles.philly.com/2004-05-15/news/25381697_1_kesher-israel-nicholas-e-berg-memorial-service \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=October 20, 2014 \|title=Hundreds mourn Nicholas Berg They valued his adventure, humor, drive - Philly.com \|publisher=Articles.philly.com \|date=2004-05-14 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> and, in 1999, attended summer sessions on the campus of the ].<ref name="thedp2004" /> At some point, Berg took a class at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4953015 \|title=Arrests in abduction of American worker - World news - Mideast/N. Africa - Conflict in Iraq \|publisher=NBC News \|date=2004-05-21 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> He never earned a college degree.<ref name="thedp2004" />
	The decapitation, the first of a series of such killings of foreign hostages in Iraq, received worldwide attention because it was filmed, and the footage was subsequently released on the ], reportedly from a ]n homepage by the Islamic organization ]. His killers claimed that his death was carried out to avenge ] by U.S. soldiers at ]. Berg's father, ], who is running as a ] candidate for ] on an anti-war platform, has blamed ] for his son's death.

			In 2002, with family members, Berg created Prometheus Methods Tower Service.<ref name="nytimes1" /> He inspected and rebuilt ], and had previously visited ] and ] on similar projects. Berg set up a subsidiary of his company, Prometheus Tower Services, Inc., in Kenya.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614105829/http://www.macon.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/chester_county/8683572.htm\|date=June 14, 2004}}</ref>{{when\|date=September 2014}}
	==Early life==
	Berg was a native of ], ], a ] of ], where he owned his own company, ] Methods Tower Service. He inspected and rebuilt ], and had previously visited ] and ] on similar projects.

	Berg attended ], where he received a diploma in 1996. Berg attended four universities: ], ], the ], and the ]. While at the University of Oklahoma, according to Nickberg.org, Berg developed a "paper brick" that was to be the precursor to his "Bovl Block" pressed construction blocks. He once traveled to Kitende, Uganda to help a village, by among other things teaching villagers how to make Bovl Blocks, a modular concrete block Berg invented for use in tower construction where steel is not readily available or is cost-prohibitive. In addition, Berg set up a subsidiary of his company, Prometheus Tower Services, Inc., in ].
	<!--
	deadlink
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	-->

	== Travels and detention ==		== Travels and detention ==
	Berg~~, unlike most of his family, was a supporter of the ] and of ] administration policy. He traveled to Iraq in the hope of helping to repair its damaged ]. He~~ first arrived in Iraq on ], ], and made arrangements to secure contract work for his company. He also went to the northern city of ], visiting an Iraqi man whose brother had been married to Berg's late aunt. Leaving on ], he returned to Iraq on ], ], only to find that the work he was promised was unavailable. Throughout his time in Iraq, he maintained frequent contact with his family in the United States by ] and ].		Berg first arrived in Iraq on December 21, 2003, and made arrangements to secure contract work for his company. He also went to the northern city of ], visiting an Iraqi man whose brother had been married to Berg's late aunt. Leaving on February 1, 2004, he returned to Iraq on March 14, 2004, only to find that the work he was promised was unavailable.{{citation needed\|date=May 2018}} Throughout his time in Iraq, he maintained frequent contact with his family in the United States by telephone and email.{{citation needed\|date=May 2018}}

	Berg had intended to return to the United States on ], ], but he was detained in Mosul on ] by ~~Iraqi~~ ] at a ~~checkpoint.~~ His family claims he was turned over to U.S. officials and held for 13 days without access to legal counsel. ] agents visited his parents to confirm his identity on ], but he was not immediately released. After his parents filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia on ], claiming that he was being held illegally, he was released from custody. He said that he had not been mistreated during his confinement. The U.S. maintains that at no time was Berg in coalition custody, but rather that he was held by Iraqi forces. The Mosul police deny they ever arrested Berg, and Berg's family has turned over an email from the U.S. consul stating "I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul."{{~~ref~~\|~~Wkrn~~}} According to the ], Berg was released from custody on ] and advised by U.S.		Berg had intended to return to the United States on March 30, 2004, but he was detained in Mosul on March 24.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/28/1085641717320.html \|title=SMH.com.au\|publisher=SMH.com.au\|date=29 May 2004\|access-date=August 22, 2014}}</ref> His family claims that he was turned over to U.S. officials and held for 13 days<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/13/berg.friends/ \|title=Friend: Berg said he was in U.S. custody \|publisher=CNN.com \|date=2004-05-13 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3712421.stm \|title=Middle East \| 'Zarqawi' beheaded US man in Iraq \|work=BBC News \|date=2004-05-13 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> without access to legal counsel. ] agents visited his parents to confirm his identity on March 31, 2004, but he was not immediately released.{{Citation needed\|date=February 2012}} After his parents filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia on April 5, 2004, claiming that he was being held illegally, he was released from custody. He said that he had not been mistreated during his confinement. The U.S. maintains that at no time was Berg in coalition custody, but rather that he was held by Iraqi forces. The Mosul police deny they ever arrested Berg, and Berg's family has turned over an email from the U.S. consul stating "I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul."<ref name="wkrn">{{cite web \|url=http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=1865745 \|title=E-mail from consul confirms Berg was in U.S. military hands \|access-date=2004-05-28 \|url-status=bot: unknown \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206182722/http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=1865745 \|archive-date=February 6, 2005 \|df=mdy-all }}, '']''</ref> According to the ], Berg was released from custody on April 6, 2004 and advised by U.S. officials to take a flight out of Iraq, with their assistance. Berg is said to have refused this offer and traveled to ], where he stayed at the ]. His family last heard from him on April 9, 2004. Berg had his last contact with U.S. officials on April 10, 2004 and did not return again to his hotel after that date. He was interviewed for filmmaker ]'s film '']''.<ref name="salon">, '']'', May 27, 2004</ref> Moore chose not to use the footage of his interview with Berg, but instead shared it with Berg's family following his death.
	officials to take a flight out of Iraq, with their assistance. Berg is said to have refused this offer and traveled to ], where he stayed at the ]. His family last heard from him on ]. Berg had his last contact with U.S. officials on ] and did not return again to his hotel after that date.

	== Disappearance ==		== Disappearance ==
	Berg's family became concerned after not hearing from him for several days. Although a ] investigator looked into Berg's disappearance, official government inquiries produced no leads. ~~Berg's~~ family, frustrated with what they say was a lack of action by the U.S. government, also hired a ] and contacted both their ] delegation and the ] in search of information.		Berg's family became concerned after not hearing from him for several days. Although a ] investigator looked into Berg's disappearance, official government inquiries produced no leads. His family, frustrated with what they say was a lack of action by the U.S. government, also hired a ] and contacted both their ] delegation and the ] in search of information.{{citation needed\|date=May 2018}} According to '']'' it is unclear how Berg came to be kidnapped.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news\|title=American beheaded in revenge for torture\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/12/iraq.alqaida\|work=]}}</ref>

	== Death ==		== Death ==
			], is the one who beheaded Berg.]]
	]
			Berg's body was found ] on May 8, 2004, on a Baghdad overpass by a U.S. military patrol. Berg's family was informed of his death two days later. Military sources stated publicly at the time that Berg's body showed "signs of ]", but did not disclose that he had been decapitated.

	Berg's body was found decapitated on ], ] on a Baghdad overpass by a U.S. military patrol. Berg's family was informed of his death on ]. Military sources stated publicly at that time that Berg's body showed "signs of ]", but did not disclose that he had been decapitated.

	On ], ], the website of the militant ] group ]{{ref\|alAnsar}} posted a ] with the opening title of "Abu Musa'b al-Zarqawi slaughters an American", which shows Berg being decapitated. Al-Zarqawi had an association with the Al-Qaida movement as does Muntada al-Ansar. The video is about five and a half minutes long.

	Berg is seen in the video wearing an orange jumpsuit. He identified himself: "My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Susan. I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in West Chester, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia."

	The video shows Berg surrounded by five men wearing ski masks and head scarves. A lengthy statement is read aloud. The statement says that Berg's killing was in direct retaliation for the abuse of prisoners by U.S. troops at Abu Ghraib prison. The masked men then converge on Berg and decapitate him with a ]. A scream can be heard as men shout "]."

	On May 13, news outlets quoted a ] source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that a voice analysis of the tape has led the agency to conclude that the masked man who reads the statement and carries out the killing is "with high probability" al-]. Some aspects of the video may or may not support that it is al-Zarqawi {{ref\|aljazeera2}}.

	], seated, before his decapitation by the five men standing over him.]]

	During the video, the man reading the statement threatens further deaths: "We tell you that the dignity of the ] men and women in ] and others is not redeemed except by ] and ]s. You will not receive anything from us but ]s after coffins ... slaughtered in this way." The video further threatens ] ] and ]i ] ].

			On May 11, 2004, the website of the militant ] forum ]<ref name="alAnsar">- website where decapitation video was reposted, now offline. See {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507065847/http://al-ansar.biz/\|date=May 7, 2004}}</ref> posted ] with the opening title of "] slaughters an American", which shows Berg being decapitated. The video is about five and a half minutes long. The video shows Nick Berg, seated, facing the camera and his captors standing behind him also facing the camera.<ref name=about2>{{cite book\|title=About to Die: How News Images Move the Public\|author=Barbie Zelizer\|publisher=]\|page=285}}</ref> Berg is wearing an orange ], similar to ones worn by prisoners in U.S. custody.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news\|title=Iraq Videotape Shows the Decapitation of an American\|author=Dexter Filkins\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/12/international/middleeast/iraq-videotape-shows-the-decapitation-of-an.html\|work=]\|date=May 12, 2004 }}</ref> His captors are all masked, their identities concealed.<ref name=nyt/> He identifies himself: "My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Suzanne. I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in West Chester, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia." A lengthy statement is read aloud by a masked man. The masked men then converge on Berg. Two of them hold him down, while one decapitates him with a ].
	The video bears some similarities to the videotape showing the ] and decapitation of '']'' reporter ] in Pakistan in ]. Like Pearl, Berg was ], although it is uncertain whether his captors were aware of that. There are many differences noted with other decapitation videos, including the decapitation video of ] in ] and the video of ] in Iraq.

			=== Perpetrators ===
	==Claimed link to Zacarias Moussaoui==
			The video title claims the decapitator was ],<ref>''] '', 20 November 2014.</ref> but this can not be determined as all the men are masked.<ref name="nyt" /> Berg screams as the masked men shout "]". After the head is severed, ] displays the head to the camera, then lays it down on the decapitated body. During the video, the masked man reading the statement said the killing was in revenge for the ]. The man says Muslims should seek vengeance for Abu Ghraib, and that the Muslim clergy had been complacent.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Video Shows Beheading of U.S. Hostage As Violence Continues in Iraq\|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/middle_east-jan-june04-iraq_05-12}}</ref><ref name="nyt" /> The man also threatens further deaths, and makes specific threats to ] ] and ] ].<ref name="guardian" />

			Media in the United States and around the world grappled with the question of how much graphics to print. The '']'' showed an image in which the killer holds Berg's severed head, while '']'' only displayed the image of the killer. British newspaper '']'' urged restraint, arguing the video was ] and publishing images from it "plays into the hands" of terrorists.<ref name=about>{{cite book\|title=About to Die: How News Images Move the Public\|author=Barbie Zelizer\|publisher=]\|pages=288–9}}</ref>
	On May 14, it was revealed that Nick Berg had been investigated during the U. S. government's investigation of ]. Berg's email address had been used by Moussaoui prior to the ]. According to Berg's father, Nick Berg had had a chance encounter with an acquaintance of Moussaoui on a bus in ]. This person had asked to borrow Berg's ] to send an email. Berg gave the details of his own email account and password, which were later used by Moussaoui. The FBI found that Berg had had no direct terrorism connections or direct link with Moussaoui.{{ref\|CNN}}

			===Reactions===
	==Arrests and confessions==
			Berg's killing was condemned by the ], and ], as well as ], ] and ].<ref name="cnn">{{cite news\|title=Powell: Arab world should be more outraged\|url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/16/powell.berg/index.html\|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL\|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2004/db051204.doc.htm}}</ref> Many others in the Muslim world also condemned the killing,<ref>{{cite book\|title=reflections in a Bloodshot Lens\|author=Lawrence Pintak\|author-link=Lawrence Pintak\|quote=Such tit-for-tat brutality disgusted mainstream Arabs and Muslims, who condemned the executions as loudly as they condemned Abu Ghraib.\|page=286\|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=MUSLIMS CONDEMN REPREHENSIBLE NICK BERG KILLING\|date=May 12, 2004\|url=https://mcb.org.uk/press-releases/muslims-condemn-reprehensible-nick-berg-killing/\|publisher=]}}</ref> and BBC journalist ] found that the "Arab street" condemned the killing of Berg, saw it as contrary to Islam, and saw it as a reaction to US prison abuses.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Arab reaction: Slaying linked to abuses\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3707281.stm\|author=Paul Wood}}</ref>
	On May 14, citing "Iraq Sources", ] reported that four people had been arrested for the murder. Two were later released after questioning.

			== Encounter with Zacarias Moussaoui ==
	On August 5th, Nouvel Observateur published a feature story by Sara Daniel (http://mapage.noos.fr/sdaniel/) detailing her meeting with one Abu Rashid, a leader of the mujahadeen council in ]. He claims that he killed Nick Berg, ] and Iraqis who collaborated with the American forces. He also states that they attempted a prisoner exchange with Nick Berg and were rebuffed by the U.S. government.
			On May 14, 2004, it was revealed that Nick Berg had come up during the U.S. government's investigation of ], a 9/11 conspirator. Berg's email address had been used by Moussaoui prior to the ]. According to Berg's father, Nick Berg had a chance encounter with an acquaintance of Moussaoui on a bus in ]. This person had asked to borrow Berg's laptop computer to send an email. Berg gave the details of his own email account and password, which were later used by Moussaoui. The ] found that Berg had no direct terrorism connections or direct link with Moussaoui.<ref name="cnn1">, '']'', May 14, 2004</ref>

			== Arrests and confessions ==
	==Interview with Michael Moore==
			On May 14, 2004, citing "Iraq sources", '']'' reported that four people had been arrested for the murder.{{Citation needed\|date=September 2014}} Two were later released.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/1885674/four-arrested-in-nick-berg-beheading-two-later-released \|title=Four Arrested In Nick Berg Beheading, Two Later Released - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports \|publisher=Wave3.com \|date=2004-05-21 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> Alternatively, on July 5, 2004, ''Sky News'' reported that four men were arrested in connection with the Nick Berg decapitation.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://news.sky.com/story/279341/iraq-four-arrested-over-berg-killing \|title=Iraq: Four Arrested Over Berg Killing \|publisher=News.sky.com \|date=2004-07-05 \|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> Suspects arrested for Berg's killing were former members of ] paramilitary group.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=May 22, 2004 \|title=Four Saddam fedayeen arrested for American's beheading \|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/four-saddam-fedayeen-arrested-for-americans-beheading-1.323043 \|website=Gulf News/AP}}</ref>

			On August 5, 2004, '']'' published a feature story by Sara Daniel<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://mapage.noos.fr/sdaniel/ \|title=Reportages: Sara-Daniel.com\|publisher=Mapage.noos.fr\|access-date=March 18, 2010}}</ref> detailing her meeting with Abu Rashid, a leader of the Mujahideen Council in ]. He claims that he killed Nick Berg, ] and Iraqis who collaborated with US forces. He also states that they attempted a prisoner exchange with Berg but were rebuffed by American officials.
	Berg was interviewed for ] ]'s film ].{{ref\|Salon}} Moore chose not to use the Berg footage, but instead shared it with Berg's family following his death.

	==See also==		== See also ==
			{{Portal\|Biography\|United States\|Iraq}}
	* ]
			{{div col}}
	* ]
	* ]		* ]
			* ]
	* ]
			* ]
	* ]
			; Victims
	** ]
			* ]
	** ]
	** ]		* ]
	** ]		* ]
			* ]
	** ]
	** ]		* ]
	** ]		* ]
	** ]		* ]
			* ]
	** ]
	** ]		* ]
			* ]<!--Kim is the family name here-->
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			{{div col end}}

	==References==		== References ==
			{{Reflist\|2}}
	<div style="float:right;margin-right:8px;">{{Tnavbar-mini\|Supertall}}</div>
	# {{note\|MiddleEastInfo}} , '']'', ] ]		<!-- Dead note "MiddleEastInfo": , '']'', May 26, 2004 -->
	# {{note\|OUDaily}} , '']'', ] ]		<!-- Dead note "OUDaily": , '']'', May 19, 2004 -->
			<!-- Dead note "IslamOnline1": , '']'', May 12, 2004 -->
	# {{note\|Wkrn}} , '']''
			<!-- Dead note "Reuters": , ''], June 7, 2006 -->
	# {{note\|IslamOnline1}} , '']'', ] ]
	# {{note~~\|CNN}}~~ , ~~''~~]''~~, ] ]~~		<!-- Dead note "IslamOnline2": , May 12, 2004 -->
			<!-- Dead note "Msnbc": , '']'', May 12, 2004 -->
	# {{note\|Reuters}} , ''], ] ]
			<!-- Dead note "TimesHerald": , '']'', May 13, 2004 -->
	# {{note\|IslamOnline2}} , ] ]
	# {{note\|Msnbc}} , '']'', ] ]
	# {{note\|TimesHerald}} , '']'', ] ]
	# {{note\|Salon}} , '']'', ] ]
	</div>

			== Further reading ==
	==External links==
			* Hayes, Jonathan. "." '']''. "A New York City medical examiner watches the video of Nick Berg’s beheading and wishes he’d looked away."
	*
	*
	*.
	* By Michael Berg, ].
	*''
	<!-- * '''' - ] news story. -->
	*'''' ] story. This article has a link to an edited version of video that does not include the beheading.
	*'''' - Interview by '']'' on August 24, 2004.
	*"" - Sara Daniel's article for Nouvel Observateur, translated by truthout.org. 50% of the original article : http://mapage.noos.fr/sdaniel/irak_sara_daniel_resistants_fallouja_juillet_2004.htm
	* - also has a lot of information on "Bovl Block" and travels.

			== External links ==
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			* {{Find a Grave\|8741946}}
	]
			*
	]
	]
	]
	]

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Latest revision as of 09:22, 7 January 2025

American repairman taken hostage and killed in Iraq (1978–2004)

Nick Berg
Born	Nicholas Evan Berg (1978-04-02)April 2, 1978 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	May 7, 2004(2004-05-07) (aged 26) Baghdad, Iraq
Cause of death	Decapitation
Resting place	Montefiore Cemetery, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Freelance radio-tower repairman
Parent(s)	Michael Berg, Suzanne Berg

Nicholas Evan Berg (April 2, 1978 – May 7, 2004) was an American freelance radio-tower repairman who went to Iraq after the United States' invasion of Iraq. He was abducted and beheaded according to a video released in May 2004 by Islamist militants in response to the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse involving the United States Army and Iraqi prisoners. The CIA claimed Berg was murdered by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The decapitation video was released on the internet, reportedly from London to a Malaysian-hosted homepage by the Islamist organization Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad.

Early life and education

Berg was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and grew up in West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He was referred to as a "religious Jew."

Berg graduated from Henderson High School in West Chester in 1996. In 1996, he was a student at Cornell University but later dropped out. He took classes at Drexel University in 1998, and, in 1999, attended summer sessions on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. At some point, Berg took a class at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. He never earned a college degree.

In 2002, with family members, Berg created Prometheus Methods Tower Service. He inspected and rebuilt communication antennas, and had previously visited Kenya and Uganda on similar projects. Berg set up a subsidiary of his company, Prometheus Tower Services, Inc., in Kenya.

Travels and detention

Berg first arrived in Iraq on December 21, 2003, and made arrangements to secure contract work for his company. He also went to the northern city of Mosul, visiting an Iraqi man whose brother had been married to Berg's late aunt. Leaving on February 1, 2004, he returned to Iraq on March 14, 2004, only to find that the work he was promised was unavailable. Throughout his time in Iraq, he maintained frequent contact with his family in the United States by telephone and email.

Berg had intended to return to the United States on March 30, 2004, but he was detained in Mosul on March 24. His family claims that he was turned over to U.S. officials and held for 13 days without access to legal counsel. FBI agents visited his parents to confirm his identity on March 31, 2004, but he was not immediately released. After his parents filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia on April 5, 2004, claiming that he was being held illegally, he was released from custody. He said that he had not been mistreated during his confinement. The U.S. maintains that at no time was Berg in coalition custody, but rather that he was held by Iraqi forces. The Mosul police deny they ever arrested Berg, and Berg's family has turned over an email from the U.S. consul stating "I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul." According to the Associated Press, Berg was released from custody on April 6, 2004 and advised by U.S. officials to take a flight out of Iraq, with their assistance. Berg is said to have refused this offer and traveled to Baghdad, where he stayed at the Al-Fanar Hotel. His family last heard from him on April 9, 2004. Berg had his last contact with U.S. officials on April 10, 2004 and did not return again to his hotel after that date. He was interviewed for filmmaker Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11. Moore chose not to use the footage of his interview with Berg, but instead shared it with Berg's family following his death.

Disappearance

Berg's family became concerned after not hearing from him for several days. Although a U.S. State Department investigator looked into Berg's disappearance, official government inquiries produced no leads. His family, frustrated with what they say was a lack of action by the U.S. government, also hired a private investigator and contacted both their Congressional delegation and the Red Cross in search of information. According to The Guardian it is unclear how Berg came to be kidnapped.

Death

A photo of a young man with a beard and overgrown hair, dressed in orange, seated on the floor as five men stand over him. The men wear black, face coverings, face masks and military vests. The man in the center holds a plaque with unreadable text. The photo is very blurry. — Nick Berg seated, with five men standing over him. The man directly behind him, said to be Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is the one who beheaded Berg.

Berg's body was found decapitated on May 8, 2004, on a Baghdad overpass by a U.S. military patrol. Berg's family was informed of his death two days later. Military sources stated publicly at the time that Berg's body showed "signs of trauma", but did not disclose that he had been decapitated.

On May 11, 2004, the website of the militant jihadist forum Muntada al-Ansar posted a video with the opening title of "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi slaughters an American", which shows Berg being decapitated. The video is about five and a half minutes long. The video shows Nick Berg, seated, facing the camera and his captors standing behind him also facing the camera. Berg is wearing an orange jumpsuit, similar to ones worn by prisoners in U.S. custody. His captors are all masked, their identities concealed. He identifies himself: "My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Suzanne. I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in West Chester, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia." A lengthy statement is read aloud by a masked man. The masked men then converge on Berg. Two of them hold him down, while one decapitates him with a knife.

Perpetrators

The video title claims the decapitator was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, but this can not be determined as all the men are masked. Berg screams as the masked men shout "Allahu Akbar". After the head is severed, one of the men displays the head to the camera, then lays it down on the decapitated body. During the video, the masked man reading the statement said the killing was in revenge for the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse. The man says Muslims should seek vengeance for Abu Ghraib, and that the Muslim clergy had been complacent. The man also threatens further deaths, and makes specific threats to U.S. President George W. Bush and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Media in the United States and around the world grappled with the question of how much graphics to print. The Dallas Morning News showed an image in which the killer holds Berg's severed head, while Seattle Times only displayed the image of the killer. British newspaper The Independent urged restraint, arguing the video was propaganda and publishing images from it "plays into the hands" of terrorists.

Reactions

Berg's killing was condemned by the Arab League, and United Nations, as well as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and UAE. Many others in the Muslim world also condemned the killing, and BBC journalist Paul Wood found that the "Arab street" condemned the killing of Berg, saw it as contrary to Islam, and saw it as a reaction to US prison abuses.

Encounter with Zacarias Moussaoui

On May 14, 2004, it was revealed that Nick Berg had come up during the U.S. government's investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui, a 9/11 conspirator. Berg's email address had been used by Moussaoui prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks. According to Berg's father, Nick Berg had a chance encounter with an acquaintance of Moussaoui on a bus in Norman, Oklahoma. This person had asked to borrow Berg's laptop computer to send an email. Berg gave the details of his own email account and password, which were later used by Moussaoui. The FBI found that Berg had no direct terrorism connections or direct link with Moussaoui.

Arrests and confessions

On May 14, 2004, citing "Iraq sources", Sky News reported that four people had been arrested for the murder. Two were later released. Alternatively, on July 5, 2004, Sky News reported that four men were arrested in connection with the Nick Berg decapitation. Suspects arrested for Berg's killing were former members of Fedayeen Saddam paramilitary group.

On August 5, 2004, Le Nouvel Observateur published a feature story by Sara Daniel detailing her meeting with Abu Rashid, a leader of the Mujahideen Council in Fallujah. He claims that he killed Nick Berg, Kim Sun-il and Iraqis who collaborated with US forces. He also states that they attempted a prisoner exchange with Berg but were rebuffed by American officials.