I know a similiar thread was closed, but this new development is quite startling. I listened to it myself and I can definitely make out the last line (btw this link goes to a story about the development, which links to an audio-only file of the beheading, no graphic violence):

English Words and Western Voices Heard on Nick Berg Beheading Video (http://www.atsnn.com/story/51616.html)

This is mostly just humorous, but pretty interesting if you're a conspiracy theorist:

It's the same chair !!!! OMFG !! (http://marc.perkel.com/archives/000233.html)

What do you all think?

Since Mr. Jones brings it up, here are a couple of other articles on the same subject. Disclaimer: I offer these for entertainment purposes only, with no Claudian endorsement.

This one questions whether Berg's beheading was what it seems to be:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FE22Ak03.html

Perhaps Doc or crumpmd could comment on the medical veracity of the article.

And here's one from the 5/21 Philadelphia Daily News:

'Nick Berg conspiracy theories'

By William Bunch, Philadelphia Daily News

THE STRANGE life and brutal death of Nick Berg, the 26-year-old radio-tower repair whiz from West Chester, has prompted a din of Internet conspiracy chatter. Without endorsing anything, here's a guide:

Theory: Video was fake

What they're saying: If Berg was beheaded on live video, as purported, why wasn't there more blood splattered on the camera and on his killers? Was he already dead? Why doesn't the audio portion match up with the video? What about strange jumps in the date stamp, and evidence that more than one camera had been used?

How come the masked men, chubby and pale-skinned and possibly wearing bulletproof vests, don't look like Arab terrorists? And why was Berg sitting in the same style white plastic chair seen in photos of the Abu Ghraib prison?

Theory: CIA claim that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is the killer is bogus

What they're saying: Why did both CNN translators and CIA sources quoted shortly after Berg's slaying insist that the alleged lieutenant of Osama bin Laden was NOT the killer.

Supposedly al-Zarqawi has a prosthetic leg, yet there's no sign of that. Also, al-Zarqawi is Jordanian, but fluent Arabic speakers say the speaker doesn't have a Jordanian accent. The killer appeared to be wearing a gold ring, supposedly prohibited in Islam.

Why does it sound like the killers are shouting in Russian at one point ? There have even been some credible news accounts that al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. bombing raid a long time ago. If he wanted the world to know that he killed Berg, why did he cover his face in a mask?

Theory: Nick Berg wasn't really who people think he was

What they're saying: Why would Berg abandon an Ivy League education and turn up in Oklahoma, where his e-mail password ended up with a terrorism suspect linked to 9/11 figure Zacarias Moussaoui? Why did he hang with other suspicious characters, including a U.S.-backed Iraqi ex-pat with a criminal past that included a Russian-emigre crime ring?

Why did Berg reportedly travel to Iraq with an Israeli stamp in his passport and brag to a U.S. journalist of his visits to Israel? Why did he admittedly carry literature in Farsi, the language of neighboring Iran? U.S. officials also say that Berg, who is Jewish, had the Koran and what they have described as "anti- Semitic" literature.

Who financ ed Berg's travels? Why was he climbing radio towers in sensitiv e areas, including near the Abu Ghraib prison? How likely is it that a Jewish kid from the Philly suburbs would have an uncle by marriage living in Mosul?

Why did the last people to see Berg alive in a Baghdad hotel report downing beers with him, when friends at home insist he didn't drink?

Theory: Berg's death is somehow linked to his dad's anti-war activities Why was Michael Berg's membership in the anti-war group ANSWER posted on an "enemies" list on the conservative Web site freerepublic .org, and who saw it?

Is there any link between Nick Berg's firm, Prometheus Methods Tower Servic e, and the Philadelphia-based Prometheus Radio Project, a liberal low-power FM-radio group whose founder also is involved with ANSWER ?

Where to read more

* http://soj.dailykos.com/story/2004/5/17/174040/985

* http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/05/con04214.html

* http:// www.sianews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1718

* http://marc.perkel.com/archives/000233.html "

I'll go get my tinfoil hat.

Originally posted by I, Claudius
Was he already dead? Why doesn't the audio portion match up with the video? What about strange jumps in the date stamp,

And why was Berg sitting in the same style white plastic chair seen in photos of the Abu Ghraib prison?

The conspiracy theories are fun to read.

Audio out of sync with video? That happens if it's been encoded by someone who doesn't know what they are doing. Jumps in date stamp? Clearly the video was paused or cut. Plastic chairs? That is one of the weakest arguments I've ever read. Talk about reaching.

The only thing that makes me wonder what is going on is the orange suit he's wearing. But it is possible since they claimed to be doing this in retaliation to the prison abuse, that they'd dress him up in prison uniform.

The fatal flaw with the conspiracy theories is that the united states would have had to gone out of their way to dress Berg up in the orange suit, put on the jackets, and so on. It just isn't logical.

Finally, with the lack of any loyalty to country, I see no reason for this so many people involved (assuming they were American) to all keep quiet. Especially someone who's only operating the camera and didn't kill Berg.

I know nothing that I've said would prove my case either. We're all grasping at straws and not a one amoung us here really knows what is doing on.

One thing I immediately noticed before the conspiracy theorists could run wild was the unusual calm nature that Berg seemed to be in. I cannot even begin to relate to anything he was going through, but I would imagine that if that was me I would have been a lot more agitated. He does almost seem like he knows whats happening and that it doesn't include his beheading.

Did anyone else notice this?

Yes, he appeared very calm.

They could have told him they just need to use him as a political tool, read a statement then he'd be let go. He wasn't held by them for very long, less than a day from what I read.

The video of him being killed also didn't show them giving Berg any warning about what they were about to do. If I were in the terrorist's position, I think informing someone they're about to die would only make that person uncooperative, and try to escape.

i just pray to god that video was fake for the sake of his parents and the pain he went through when i whatched the video i felt so bad for a couple hours hard thing to go through imagine haveing to whatch your son getting beheaded every other day on tv. sucks

Yeah sometimes I think the people who are TRULY effected by such a tragedy, namely Nick Berg's family and friends, are forgotten about by us, the general public. We seem to sometimes desensitize things like this in order to treat it as a subject for a debate, as opposed to the horrible passing of an innocent and love man. I think we all need to remember what happened, regardless of the countless conspiracy theories, and that is a man was lost forever and his family is going through unimaginable pain.

God bless Mr. Berg and his family

So to add another wrinkle into everything. It is possible the Berg was not who we think he was. He was Jewish, and had admittedly traveled to Israel. So why do in mention this.... I have heard that he was with Mossad, or better known as Israel's Intelligence Services.

Originally posted by sea-rx8
So to add another wrinkle into everything. It is possible the Berg was not who we think he was. He was Jewish, and had admittedly traveled to Israel. So why do in mention this.... I have heard that he was with Mossad, or better known as Israel's Intelligence Services.

LMAO. I thought only Lock & Load or VitB6 could believe such stupid crap. There is no way that any covert Israeli agency would be so stupid as to send your stereotypical Jew from the USA into an Arab country to spy. He/she would stick out like a sore thumb and the result would be unfortunate for the spy. Imagine sending Jim Brown to a KKK rally to spy.

yah i heard this man b ut there are conspiracies about everything it just makes you think about everything that has been done.... these are really good arguments tho