WIZBANG EXCLUSIVE- Nick Berg gave password to terrorists (Wizbang)

This story keeps getting better. A friend called me and told me the AP was going to release a story that Nick Berg was investigated by the FBI 2 years ago because he gave his password for his computer account at his university to terrorist mastermind Zacharias Moussaoui.

This guy was dirty. We has over there trying to help the terrorists and they killed him (See previous Wizbang coverage for the video). Then his old man blames Bush?

It is not on Drudge or google news but you can bank on it. The AP has it and you heard it here first.

UPDATE: The FBI at the time decided he was not working with Al Qeada but he was just not to careful with his password. It seems bizarre - Al Qaeda stole his password 2 years ago and killed him this week but they are not related in some way? .... I got a bridge to sell you if you believe that one.

UPDATE 2: CNN finally has the story an hour or so after Wizbang:

UPDATE 3: philly.com has more below the fold.

UPDATE 4: Berg's Father, "The al-Qaida people are PROBABLY just as bad as they are, but this administration did this."

And some of you DOUBT this guy is a political hack? More below.

UPDATE 2:

Berg's encounter with 'terrorist' revealed

WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- When Nicholas Berg took an Oklahoma bus to a remote college campus a few years ago, the American recently beheaded by terrorists allowed a man with terrorist connections to use his laptop computer, according to his father.

Government sources told CNN that the encounter involved an acquaintance of Zacarias Moussaoui -- the only person publicly charged in the United States in connection with the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

According to Berg, his son was taking a course a few years ago at a remote campus of the University of Oklahoma near an airport. He described how on one particular day, his son met "some terrorist people -- who no one knew were terrorists at the time."

At one point during the bus ride, Berg said, the man sitting next to his son asked if he could use Nick's laptop computer.

"It turned out this guy was a terrorist and that he, you know, used my son's e-mail, amongst many other people's e-mail who he did the same thing to," Berg said.

Government sources said Berg gave the man his password, which was later used by Moussaoui, the sources said.

The sources said the man who used Berg's e-mail knew Moussaoui, now awaiting trial on federal charges that could bring a death sentence. But the sources would not disclose details of how the men were connected. ...

Berg said his son cooperated fully with an FBI investigation into the matter.

"He was happy to cooperate, and that was never an issue," he said. He emphasized that the individual was not a friend of his son's or even an acquaintance -- "just a guy sitting next to him on the bus."

Yeah, I just lent him my laptop, yeah, that's it, that's the ticket.

I think the phrase is, "This raises more questions than it answers."

UPDATE 3: Philly.com has more info that just adds to the mystery. It throws up into the air the junior Berg's intentions. But it proves beyond a doubt his father is a lying political hack.

Some of those details have not been reported before, including:

The FBI apparently conducted a lengthy investigation of Berg in captivity because they were checking out a possible friendship or other tie with an Arab at the University of Oklahoma who was under scrutiny in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The source said that in addition to his passport, cash and a laptop, Berg had two books when he was arrested in Mosul on March 24 that aroused suspicion: the Koran and a book that authorities somehow interpreted as "anti-Semitic."

Friends say it's unlikely that Berg, a practicing Jew, would have carried an anti-Semitic book but that reading the Koran and other local texts was very much in line with his intellectual curiosity.

Berg stubbornly refused American offers of assistance in getting home - including an offer of free airfare, cash and an American escort. He told authorities before his April 6 release that he was eager to get back to work seeking contracts in Iraq, telling U.S. authorities "he was losing thousands of dollars in jail."

The New York Times is reporting this morning that Berg also sent a lengthy e-mail to his family after he was detained. Among the questions asked, he wrote, were: "Why was I in Iraq? Did I ever make a pipe bomb? Why was I in Iran?"

As Drudge says, Developing....

As I slept, it Developed.

UPDATE 4

Berg's father speaks out

WEST CHESTER - Michael Berg lashed out at President George Bush and his administration during an impromptu briefing outside the family's home on Thursday morning about the murder of his son, Nick Berg, who authorities believe was killed by terrorists.

"Nicholas Berg died for the sins of George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld," Michael Berg said. "The al-Qaida people are probably just as bad as they are, but this administration did this."

The 20-minute briefing took place outside the family's home on the 1200 block of Estate Drive, West Whiteland.

"This is an administration that allows something that they arrogantly called the Patriot Act to strip away America, to make America not the America that I grew up in," Michael Berg continued.

"It was a coup d'etat. At first a bloodless coup d'etat, but, unfortunately, afterward it has become very bloody."[Yes, Georege Bush took over the country by coup -ed]

On the front lawn of the Bergs' home was a blue sign that read: War is not the answer. Michael Berg said he posted the sign, which belonged to an organization called ANSWER, or Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism.

Berg has been a member of the group, he said, since participating in a rally in Washington, D.C., in March 2003. "It is something that I am not ashamed of. I am proud of it."

He continued, "I think stopping the war and ending racism are extremely important things that this world has to do right now. I am proud to be a member of ANSWER and I plan to be at the march on June 5. I know it is considered a radical group," Berg said. "I want to ask: Radical as compared to what? The Bush administration? I'll be radical." Berg also directed a question to the president. "I would like to ask George Bush a question. I would like to ask him if it is true that al-Qaida offered to trade my son's life for the life of another person," Berg said. "And if that is true, I need that information ... and I think the rest of the people of the United States of America need to know what the fate of their sons and daughters might be in the hands of the Bush administration," he said.

Now- Where on earth would I get the idea this guy was a left wing loon stepping on the body of his dead son to make a political point?

Comments (79)

I heard one of the cable ne... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Thomas | May 13, 2004 7:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Thomas:

I heard one of the cable networks discuss the Nick Berg/Moussaoui connection earlier this morning. Forgive me for forgetting which one, but I think it was MSNBC. They said he was questioned by the FBI two years ago. There was no mention of the computer password angle you revealed but they were speculating about any possible connections with Nick Berg and that terrorist.

Posted on May 13, 2004 19:43

Let's get our facts straigh... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Fritz | May 13, 2004 7:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Fritz:

Let's get our facts straight before we start calling a fellow AMERICAN "dirty":

"Sources said that the FBI concluded that Berg had innocently given his e-mail account to someone and it had landed in the hands of other people, including Moussaoui."

"Sources close to the situation told Fox News that they believed the link to be 'coincidental.'"

Seriously, this is very irresponsible and shameful. First, you attack a grieving father -- showing no sympathy or respect. Then, you twist a story that that describes what seems to be nothing more than a weird coincidence into some kind of conspiracy between Berg and Al Qaeda to do what -- have himself decapitated to prove a point?

I've been investigated by the Secret Service because someone stole my ID and tried to get a passport with it. So what? That doesn't mean I'm in league with a possible terrorist.

Posted on May 13, 2004 19:52

No disrespect ment here, bu... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Mike | May 13, 2004 8:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Mike:

No disrespect ment here, but the father, while he is in a very grevious state, instantly came out and blamed Bush for his son's death. Not the terrorists who committed the crime. It would seem Nick Berg was over there on his own free will, knowing the danger. His father is entitled to his opinion and it may change, but by coming out against Bush so soon he has opened himself up to criticism.

Posted on May 13, 2004 20:01

Fritz... How many times hav... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Paul | May 13, 2004 8:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Paul:

Fritz... How many times have you run into Al Qaeda leadership figures?

I've never met one!

This guy's password was transfered to Zacharias Moussaoui and then he was killed by another Al Qaeda leader and you don't smell something fishy?

Posted on May 13, 2004 20:19

Fox News is alleging that <... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Joe Grossberg | May 13, 2004 9:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Joe Grossberg:

Fox News is alleging that NB didn't give ZM the password, but the later "20th hijacker" got his hands on the account.

The Miami Herald says:

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Berg was detained by Iraqi authorities "for his own protection" because his behavior in Mosul seemed unusual for a Westerner. Unlike most Westerners in Iraq, Berg traveled on his own, without his own driver and interpreter.

The official added that Berg, who was Jewish, had in his possession texts that were "anti-Semitic" in tone, the official said without elaborating.

In the e-mail to his parents, Berg guessed the FBI agents in Mosul had questioned him about Iran because he was carrying some literature in Farsi and a book about Iran.

There's definitely more than meets the eye to this one, a lot to sort out. I could think of anything from him being clueless (carrying around a talis and Israeli passport stamps in Iraq!), to him being a terrorist sympathizer who was gullible to think they wanted his support (father's comments, ZM connection, Iranian books), to him trying to do something totally different and these (contradictory) clues being red herrings.

Posted on May 13, 2004 21:12

So am I still an asshole?</... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Paul | May 13, 2004 9:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

So am I still an asshole?

Posted on May 13, 2004 21:29

I thought it was odd that a... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Jim | May 13, 2004 10:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jim:

I thought it was odd that an American was wandering around without a job. I assumed I just din't know how it worked over there and that this was commonplace. Is it? I still don't know.

Posted on May 13, 2004 22:03

With all due respect, I thi... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by ilyka | May 13, 2004 10:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

ilyka:

With all due respect, I think what's "dirty" is speculating about the dead like this before all the facts are in.

Posted on May 13, 2004 22:33

I think it's fair to wonder... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Patterico | May 14, 2004 12:21 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Patterico:

I think it's fair to wonder at the coincidental nature of all this. But I think it's premature to declare the guy "dirty."

Posted on May 14, 2004 00:21

"So am I still an asshole?"... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Rob R-H | May 14, 2004 12:27 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Rob R-H:

"So am I still an asshole?"

For piling onto a dead man and his grieving family with speculative conspiracy theories? I'm going to assume you're not actually looking for an answer.

Perhaps he was actually decapitated while trying to board one of those black helicopters...

Posted on May 14, 2004 00:27

So, you're going with unnam... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by Meryl Yourish | May 14, 2004 12:37 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Meryl Yourish:

So, you're going with unnamed sources, who claim that a Jew was carrying around an anti-Semitic text (which, according to Berg's friends and family, is highly unlikely), and deciding that somehow Berg was working with terrorists?

That's some leap of faith you folks are making.

And let's not forget, the U.S. official in Iraq would be mighty eager to cover the asses of any U.S. officials who might have delayed Berg from getting out of a war zone that had suddenly become extremely dangerous for Americans. Interesting how suddenly it's becoming Berg's fault that he's dead, instead of, oh, the fault of the terrorists who killed him.

I'll wait for a few more facts to come in before I start declaring Berg an anti-Semite. [rolls eyes]

Posted on May 14, 2004 00:37

What Meryl said. This is t... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by ilyka | May 14, 2004 1:28 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

What Meryl said. This is the worst of yellow journalism, squared.

(Thanks, Kevin, for your remarks in the post above this one.)

Posted on May 14, 2004 01:28

How about this?One... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Robert Stevens | May 14, 2004 3:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Robert Stevens:

How about this?

One of our own got clipped. Thus the blackwash.

An anonymous star at Langley? Or one of the intel agencies.

Posted on May 14, 2004 03:47

Paul:You can be ri... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Joe Grossberg | May 14, 2004 8:48 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

You can be right, and still be an asshole. :)

Posted on May 14, 2004 08:48

Just as long as I get my pr... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by Paul | May 14, 2004 8:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Just as long as I get my props. LOL

Posted on May 14, 2004 08:53

Excuse me? Since when does ... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by Kathy K | May 14, 2004 9:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Kathy K:

Excuse me? Since when does "an acquaintance of Zacarias Moussaoui" translate to "al Qaeda leader"?

It was an encounter with one of the common grunts. I wouldn't be at all surprised if, at some time in my life, I had encountered one of them on a bus somewhere. I know I've encountered at least one online, who used to be a blogger.

Posted on May 14, 2004 09:43

PART OF THE GRIEVING PROCES... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by GINA | May 14, 2004 10:44 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

GINA:

PART OF THE GRIEVING PROCESS IS SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND. THEREFORE, TO PLACE BLAME SEEMS NATURAL AT THIS POINT ON HIS FATHER'S PART...BUT FOR US, PLACING BLAME (WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS) ON EITHER BUSH OR THE DECEASED IS WRONG. "WE" HAVE LOST NOONE. GOD BE WITH HIM IF IT IS MORE THAN JUST A WICKED COINCIDENCE, BECAUSE THEN OUR NATION WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TO GRIEVE. CONSIDERING ALL THE RIGHTS WERE EQUIPPED WITH AS AMERICANS, THE UNSPOKEN RIGHT TO LOVE OUR CHILDREN "NO MATTER WHAT" SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN. WHAT WOULDN'T YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR OWN? GOD BE WITH US ALL!

Posted on May 14, 2004 10:44

Come on, Paul is absolutely... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by Mike | May 14, 2004 11:32 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Come on, Paul is absolutely correct about the father here. He is using his murdered son to make a political point. The father is going on CNN blasting Bush, saying that the Al Queda people are PROBABLY just as bad as the Bush administration!! Are you kidding me? I feel terrible for the rest of Nick Berg's family, but the father is going out of his way to make sure everyone knows he is blaming Bush for his son's death.

Posted on May 14, 2004 11:32

I agree with some of the ot... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by John | May 14, 2004 11:38 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

John:

I agree with some of the other posters. I don't think it's right to conspire so early. Although it's hard not to. I've got a lot of ideas and theories, but I'd rather think about them more, or wait for some honest truths. Which are hard to come by, (I mean this is the US of A aint it?) All I know is, this war is turning into a "slap fight" of sorts. And it's starting to really scare me (even though I've tried to fight the fear, but it's hard when every form of media is shoving it down our throats) because this is a religious crusade, and it's only going to get worse.

Didn't "the evil doers" offer us a truce? If "we" stop, "they" will stop? I could be wrong, but I swear I heard or read that someplace.

Oh, and concerning Nick Berg, I sympathise for their family, whether the conspiracy theorists are right or wrong about him being involved, I still sympathise. Besides losing a loved one, Imagine watching your own son get his head cut off? Being shown to millions of people around the world? I suppose to the people who did the killing, it was not much different than the worldwide humiliation of their soldiers. I'm not condoning it or understanding it or sympathising with THEM, but like I said, it's a lethal slap fight, and the only way it will end is if someone stops first.

one last thing..
I'm not too educated on the origins of this war. I know the Bush family has a history with the saddam, but I thought al-queda and saddam weren't exactly "pals". I thought they hated saddam. And frankly, I just don't see the relation between bin ladin, and saddam. So I want to know who through the first punch? Because it seems like these al-queda folks are more into retaliation. Did something happen before the September 11th attack? Was there even a first punch? Or has the American government been trying to take over the middle east? Sort of like a Roman Empire thing? Or was it a siding with Israel? What's going on here? Is it all a skull and bones thing?

Posted on May 14, 2004 11:38

"Thew" ...."who THREW the f... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by John | May 14, 2004 11:41 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

"Thew" ...."who THREW the first punch..." not "Through". sorry

Posted on May 14, 2004 11:41

Listen to this please. The... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by Bob | May 14, 2004 12:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Bob:

Listen to this please. The minute we are born we are dying. To waist so much precious time destroying things we are all a bunch of assholes.
Lennon was right when he said Imagine no religions, no countries. Let's all face it, we are
all from the same planet and we all want what is right for our children. I sometimes think that I am really stupid but to kill one another over differences in religion, philosophy, culture or anything else at this time 2004 is a fuckin pity.
I guess man really is doomed.We would all be better off accepting our differences and spending more time loving, caring, and helping each other rather than killing.I think nuclear is right around the corner the way things are going so give the kids a hug tonight, get in touch with all those friends you have been meaning to call and tighten up all those loose ends. We are running out of time.

Posted on May 14, 2004 12:19

John:So I want ... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by McGehee | May 14, 2004 1:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

McGehee:

So I want to know who through the first punch? Because it seems like these al-queda folks are more into retaliation. Did something happen before the September 11th attack? Was there even a first punch? Or has the American government been trying to take over the middle east? Sort of like a Roman Empire thing? Or was it a siding with Israel? What's going on here? Is it all a skull and bones thing?

It may be that al Qaeda is "into relatliation" -- but that doesn't necessarily mean what they're retaliating for ever actually happened. Personally, I think they're retaliating for the reconquista in which the Muslims were driven out of Spain.

We would all be better off accepting our differences and spending more time loving, caring, and helping each other rather than killing.

Tell you what: go find Osama bin Laden and tell him he needs to accept our differences and spend more time loving, caring and helping. Let us know what he has to say.

Posted on May 14, 2004 13:03

John, I'm going to try to e... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by dorkafork | May 14, 2004 1:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

dorkafork:

John, I'm going to try to explain al-Qaeda's motives, etc. ("Holy War, Inc." is a pretty good book on the subject.) OBL has made several demands: remove US troops from Saudi Arabia, lift sanctions against Iraq, and end support for Israel. That these are basically political demands do not make them right, or give them any sort of legitimacy. Not only do they demand too much, they're using terrorism to try and get it. You cannot negotiate with terrorists. If a group uses terrorism to get what they want and you give it to them, they'll probably think of something else they want. And other groups will learn from their success. Did the evil-doers offer us a "truce"? Better to think of them as "terms of surrender". And there's no reason to think they'll stop.

It's not a "slap fight", there's no "cycle of violence". Berg was kidnapped well before the Abu Ghraib photos came to light. Same for the Italian hostage, and Danny Pearl. Who started it? OBL talks about the "tragedy of Andalusia", when the Moors (who were Muslim) were kicked out of Spain (1492 AD). He'd probably also say the West started it with the Crusades (1095 AD). In both cases I think he'd neglect to mention, or care that these events both came several hundred years after the initial Moorish invasion of Spain. (711 AD) Because when Muslims start something, they're Muslims, not lousy kufr. And how the US could be responsible for something ancient European kingdoms did, I do not know.

"I know the Bush family has a history with the saddam". Yes of going to war with him and trying to bomb him.

"I thought (al-Qaeda) hated saddam." No, OBL certainly didn't like him, but that didn't preclude them working together against a common enemy (US). There are countless instances of shifting alliances in Arab history. For example, Iraq fought a bloody war with Iran, then during Gulf War I, Saddam sent most of his airforce to Iran for safekeeping. (Of course, Iran decided to keep the aircraft...)

Posted on May 14, 2004 13:09

I work for a small private ... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by Mary | May 14, 2004 2:06 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Mary:

I work for a small private university on Chicago's southwest side. We have a significant Arab population. When 9/11 happened, FBI agents descended on our campus going through admissions, student and advising records (and I don't know what else). Of course we were not privy to what happened but several students were dismissed from the university and two were arrested for "being linked to terrorist activities". Rumor was that they had something to do with funneling money back to al Qaeda.

Did I have contact with the two arrested students? Of course. Did I casually chat with these two students in the dining hall or at campus events? You bet. Were their names on my work computer for a variety of reasons? Yes. Does that mean I supported the acts of terrorism that took place on 9/11 or since? Absolutely not!

Another point to consider is that we constantly have to tell our students over and over and over again that they absolutely should not give their passwords or personal information to anyone, including their friends, boyfriends or girlfriends. But they do. All the time. I can't tell you how many times I've had a student in my office crying, "My boyfriend/girlfriend checked my e-mail/IM history and knows I'm seeing someone else. What am I gonna do?" It's that "It can't happen to me" mentality.

I don't think we should assume Nick Berg was conspiring with terrorists - yet. It may truly be a coincidence or something more but I think it is too soon to assume anything.

Posted on May 14, 2004 14:06

McGehee:Tell yo... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by andy | May 14, 2004 2:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

andy:

I think you meant to say "Let us know where you'd like your remains buried." Right?

Posted on May 14, 2004 14:19

26. Posted by andy | May 14, 2004 2:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Posted on May 14, 2004 14:20

And, uh, sorry for the doub... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by andy | May 14, 2004 2:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

And, uh, sorry for the double post. Our network is all kinds of slow and misbehaving today.

Posted on May 14, 2004 14:22

This is weird. The... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by IB Bill | May 14, 2004 2:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

IB Bill:

This is weird.

The most innocent scenario I can come up with is this: Berg had a coincidental encounter in Okla. A son of a radical family, this got him jazzed in that way best described in Conrad's story, "Youth". Berg then went looking to repeat the experience. He was clearly an adventurer. Not being where it was all happening was probably difficult for him. So he had to go where the action was. And this time he got in

WIZBANG EXCLUSIVE- Nick Berg gave password to terrorists

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