[Crimson Ghost]

OnyxCougar,
If you were to view the tape (I understand you don't want to. Fully understandable. It's a rough view.), you might think that "Berg"'s head doesn't quite look right. Almost like a "cut and paste" (excuse the expression) job, or, possibly a mask.
Your co-worker is right. As far as I know, wedding rings are not part of the Islamic culture.
"There is also a switch from regular time to 24hours "military" time, between the cutting of the throat and the sawing off of the head." - Yup, that's what caught my eye, the quite sudden jump in the timestamp, especially in the middle of an action like that.
"they appear kinda portly for terrorists." - could be baggy clothes, could be layered over a bullet-proof vest, or they could honestly be fat pieces of shit. (I vote for the third option.)
As per the body, I don't know what was done. I know that an open casket could be done, depending on the condition of the remains upon return to the States. Morticians wax does wonders.
As per DanaC: "Berg's family have been very critical of the government and they seem genuinely to be the bereaved family of a decapitated man." - I have no doubt in my mind that the Berg family belives that Nick was murdered in cold blood. That is what they are being told. He's on the other side of the world. They would have no way of proving it's not him, either.
But, if the FBI/CIA wanted someone to "disappear", what better way than to have a tape of the person being slaughtered? The question then comes up, why did he need to "disappear"? The answers may only bring up more questions.............