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Gold9472
03-06-2005, 04:29 PM
Italian Journalist Rejects U.S. Account

By MARIA SANMINIATELLI, Associated Press Writer

ROME - The Italian journalist wounded by American troops in Iraq after her release by insurgents rejected the U.S. military's account of the shooting and declined Sunday to rule out the possibility she was deliberately targeted. The White House said it was a "horrific accident" and promised a full investigation.

Meanwhile, an autopsy performed on the agent who died trying to save Giuliana Sgrena reportedly showed he was struck in the temple by a single round and died instantly as the car carrying Sgrena sped to the Baghdad airport.

Friday's shooting that wounded the 56-year-old journalist and killed Italian intelligence officer Nicola Calipari as they were celebrating her freedom has fueled anti-American sentiment in a country where people are deeply opposed to U.S. policy in Iraq.

But government officials indicated the shootings would not affect the decision by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi - a strong U.S. ally - to maintain 3,000 troops in Iraq to help secure peace in the country.

"The military mission must carry on because it consolidates democracy and liberty in Iraq," Communications Minister Maurizio Gasparri was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. "On the other hand, we must control - but not block - the presence of civilians and journalists, who must observe rules and behavior to reduce the risks."

Sgrena, who works for the communist daily Il Manifesto, did not rule out that she was targeted, saying the United States likely disapproved of Italy's methods to secure her release, although she did not elaborate.

"The fact that the Americans don't want negotiations to free the hostages is known," Sgrena told Sky TG24 television by telephone, her voice hoarse and shaky. "The fact that they do everything to prevent the adoption of this practice to save the lives of people held hostages, everybody knows that. So I don't see why I should rule out that I could have been the target."

Italian officials have not provided details about the negotiations leading to Sgrena's release Friday after a month in captivity, but Agriculture Minister Giovanni Alemanno was quoted as saying it was "very likely" a ransom was paid. U.S. officials object to ransoms, saying it encourages further kidnappings.

White House counselor Dan Bartlett said Sunday the shootings were a "horrific accident" and pointed out that President Bush had called Berlusconi to offer condolences and promise a full investigation.

"As you know, in a situation where there is a live combat zone, particularly this road to the airport, has been a notorious area for car bombs, that people are making split-second decisions, and it's critically important that we get the facts before we make judgments," Bartlett said on CNN's "Late Edition."

The U.S. military has said the car Sgrena was riding in was speeding, and Americans used hand and arm signals, flashing white lights and warning shots to get it to stop at the roadblock.

But in an interview with Italian La 7 TV, Sgrena said, "There was no bright light, no signal." She also said the car was traveling at "regular speed."

Sgrena also recalled how Calipari, who led negotiations for her release, died after throwing himself over her when the shooting broke out as they were celebrating her freedom on the way to the airport.

"I remember only fire," she wrote in Il Manifesto, which fiercely opposed the war in Iraq. "At that point a rain of fire and bullets came at us, forever silencing the happy voices from a few minutes earlier."

Sgrena said the driver began shouting that they were Italian, then "Nicola Calipari dove on top of me to protect me and immediately, and I mean immediately, I felt his last breath as he died on me."

Suddenly, she said, she remembered her captors' words, when they warned her "to be careful because the Americans don't want you to return."

Sgrena wrote that her captors warned her as she was about to be released not to signal her presence to anyone, because "the Americans might intervene." She said her captors blindfolded her and drove her to a location where she was turned over to agents and they set off for the airport.

Calipari's body was returned to Italy late Saturday, and Berlusconi and President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi joined Calipari's wife, mother and two children at Rome's Ciampino Airport to receive it.

An autopsy was performed Sunday, and ANSA quoted doctors as saying Calipari was struck in the temple by a single round and died instantly.

The body lay in state at Rome's Vittoriano monument and a state funeral was planned for Monday. Calipari was to be awarded the gold medal of valor for his heroism.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld called Italy's defense minister, Antonio Martino, "to express the sorrow of the American administration, and his own personal sorrow for the death of Nicola Calipari," Italy's Defense Ministry said in a statement. The U.S. military has promised an "aggressive" investigation.

Italian military officials said two other agents were wounded, but U.S. officials said it was only one.

Iraqi politician Younadem Kana told Belgian state TV Saturday evening that he had "nonofficial" information that a $1 million ransom was paid for Sgrena's release, the Apcom news agency reported from Brussels. The report could not be confirmed.

Sgrena told Sky TG24 she had no intention of returning to Iraq. Her captors, she said, made it clear that "they do not want witnesses and we are all perceived as possible spies."

Sgrena was abducted Feb. 4 by gunmen who blocked her car outside Baghdad University. She was later shown in a video pleading for her life and demanding that all foreign troops - including Italian forces - leave Iraq.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Gold9472
03-06-2005, 04:38 PM
I know that this story has been in the news a lot lately, and I have to admit, I've been a little hesitant to post anything deragatory about our soldiers.

I know, in theory, that makes me no better than the MSNBC's, CNN's, or Fox New's of the world, but you also have to understand that our soldiers are over there fighting for a LIE.

I DO NOT want them getting killed. I would MUCH rather have them come home. I realize that sometimes during war, things happen. I also know that the troops are over stressed thanks to the mandatory extensions on their tour of duty. They don't want to be there. A recent poll showed that 49% of the soldiers touring in Iraq do not plan on re-enlisting. I can't imagine how they feel, knowing full well that they're there for a lie.

However, this needs to be investigated. Plain and simple.

Good Doctor HST
03-08-2005, 04:51 PM
I'm not hesitant to post bad things about some soldiers. There are bad U.S. soldiers too, just like the rest of the world... there are some bad apples that spoil the bunch.

I don't understand why people held hostage for what, months? would be so careless when evacuating the area; they wouldn't acknowledge hand signals and flares asking them to slow down. How does a single shot to the gas tank of the vehicle end up in the driver's head? Is L. H. Oswald alive? Or, how does a single shot to the gas tank of the vehicle end up being described by the hostage as "a rain of fire and bullets" (her words)? Did the Americans feel threatened? Probably. But remember......

This didn't have to happen. Just keep reminding yourself that. None of this violence had to happen.

Gold9472
03-08-2005, 04:58 PM
I'm not hesitant to post bad things about some soldiers. There are bad U.S. soldiers too, just like the rest of the world... there are some bad apples that spoil the bunch.

I don't understand why people held hostage for what, months? would be so careless when evacuating the area; they wouldn't acknowledge hand signals and flares asking them to slow down. How does a single shot to the gas tank of the vehicle end up in the driver's head? Is L. H. Oswald alive? Or, how does a single shot to the gas tank of the vehicle end up being described by the hostage as "a rain of fire and bullets" (her words)? Did the Americans feel threatened? Probably. But remember......

This didn't have to happen. Just keep reminding yourself that. None of this violence had to happen.

Your point "None of this violence had to happen" coincides with my point of not posting deragatory things about the soldiers...

They're there because of our Political Leaders. I want the blame for being there to lay solely on the shoulders of those leaders.

I don't want what happened during Vietnam to happen now. People eventually started blaming the soldiers for the atrocities, and not the people who got them there in the first place...

That's what I'm trying to avoid...

danceyogamom
03-08-2005, 06:03 PM
They are there due to our political leaders ... and I understand completely what it is you are trying to avoid. I don't think anyone wants a repeat of Vietnam.

but despite the blame of their presence on our leaders, individuals take actions that can only be blamed on the individual. We as a society should be able to see the difference between unfortunate leadership, and personal actions ... and we *should* be able to lay blame in the right place.

I'm not taking sides on this particular issue, but there has to be something between the "all soldiers are evil" stance and "I was just following orders"