All day we’re hearing from the government spokespeople that Nick Berg was absolutely not held in US custody, while the angry parents insist that he was. No, the US asserts, he was in the custody of the Iraqi police prior to his capture and beheading by terrorists. He was never detained by the US military.

But emails between the US consulate and Berg’s family contradict this claim:

Text of e-mails from Beth A. Payne, a U.S. consular officer in Baghdad, to members of the family of Nicholas Berg. Copies of the e-mails were provided to The Associated Press by the Berg family.

April 1, 1:26 a.m. (To Michael Berg, Berg’s father)

I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul. He is safe. He was picked up approximately one week ago. We will try to obtain additional information regarding his detention and a contact person you can communicate with directly.

April 1, 5:23 a.m. (To Suzanne Berg, Berg’s mother)

I have been able to confirm that your son is being detained by the U.S. military. I am attempting to identify a person with the U.S. military or FBI here in Iraq who you can contact directly with your questions.

There are more, all repeating that he’s in the custody of the US military.

Can we wonder why the Bergs are incensed, and why the story everywhwere is being described as “murky” and “confusing”? Something’s definitely rotten in Iraq, and the military had better clarify things fast. Loose ends like this can provide breeding grounds for conspiracy theorists.