by TChris

TalkLeft reported yesterday on another credibility problem in the Bush administration: Nicholas Berg's family says that Berg was detained by the U.S. military, causing him to delay his departure from Iraq, while the government claims that Berg was detained by the Iraqi police but was never by the U.S. military. The family complains that Berg might be alive if the military hadn't detained him without cause. Today, Berg's family produced evidence to support their version of events.

A U.S. diplomatic official in Iraq told the family of slain American Nicholas Berg in early April that he was being detained by the U.S. military, according to e-mails provided by the family Thursday.

"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," the e-mail said.

Is the Bush government programmed to deny every fact that might be unfavorable to the administration, without bothering to investigate?

Update: According to Reuters, the Iraqi police chief has also contradicted the government's story. The Reuters report contains harsh words for the Bush administration from Nick's father, Michael Berg.

"My son died for the sins of George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld. This administration did this," Berg said in an interview with radio station KYW-AM.