Body of Slain Italian Agent Gets Hero's Welcome-- "died shielding Sgrena"

[Chicago Democrat]

Body of Slain Italian Agent Gets Hero's Welcome (Reuters)

By Christiano Corvino
ROME (Reuters) - The body of an Italian secret service agent shot by U.S. forces in Iraq was flown home to a hero's welcome early on Sunday amid mounting anger in Italy over his killing.

Agent Nicola Calipari died while shielding reporter Giuliana Sgrena, just freed after a month held hostage, from U.S. troops who opened fire on their car near Baghdad airport.


(snip)


President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi held both hands up to the coffin, standing motionless in front of the body for almost two minutes before allowing it to be placed in a hearse.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, government ministers and clergy looked on, while 5 of Italy's 7 national television stations broadcast the return live, underscoring the huge sense of shock and disbelief in Italy over the killing.


http://www.political-news.org/breaking/7263/body-of-slain-italian-agent-gets-heros-welcome.html

[understandinglife]

1. This should be posted on the front page of DU for at least 48 hours.

Thank you.


"DO YOU ENJOY BEING A CITIZEN OF THE ROGUE, RUTHLESS SUPER_POWER?"

[Chicago Democrat]

2. He's getting a "State Funeral" Why don't we do this?!!?

Why don't we give each one of our dead any public honor?

BECAUSE IT WOULD POINT OUT THE FUTILITY AND HIPOCRACY OF THIS WAR!

[understandinglife]

4. Yes. Our fellow citizens, slaughtered in Iraq by Bu$h, return....

...with maximum effort to prevent anyone from knowing of their sacrifice.

This is what happens when a chump who has never been held accountable for anything gets to play war.

At some point, the vast majority of our fellow citizens are going to have to face the fact that we've allowed a butcher and a torturer to be the CEO of America. Most of the sentient population on the planet already "gets it."

Peace.

[The Zanti Regent]

6. because my ONLY CHILD died for the oil companies, that's why

They killed my only child, brainwashed him, sent him to die at 19.

The hatred I have for these Nazis knows no bounds.

[bpilgrim]

8. thank you for never letting us forget

every time i read your post reminding us all of the madness and cruelty of this criminal administration i give thanks to your courage and am sadden to the core over tragic loss.

:cry:

peace

[omega minimo]

11. Peace be with you and with your son

When Jim Lehrer News Hour finishes the program with the photos of soldiers killed in Iraq ("and here now, in silence, are 10 more.... are 7 more.... are 16 more....."), I can only look at each face, each lost life, and say to them, "I'm sorry." Maybe your son was one of them. So many, I can't watch it anymore.

It is a total unecessary waste of life. We "support the troops" by opposing having their lives squandered for a private agenda of lies.



Peace be with you and with your son.

[CBHagman]

14. One of my friends made posters pictures of the fallen...

...and posted them on K Street in DC. I can't walk past them without tearing up. It really hits you -- all those lives simply thrown away, and with no end to the slaughter in sight.

May they all be together in peace in the next world. Amen.

[sojourner]

17. I am so sorry for your inestimable loss!

So damn sorry. I have kids. I cannot imagine what you have gone through. Are still going through. You must have an amazing amount of courage.

:cry:

Peace

[truth2power]

48. Zanti, every time I read one of your posts, my heart aches.

I, too, have a son. I can't begin to imagine the pain you must feel. I am so, so sorry..... :cry:

[anarchy1999]

100. I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Thank you for being here and staying with .

us.
Truly, I'm so sorry.
n/t

[Maat]

109. Zanti Regent ...

what happened to you should NEVER have happened to anyone on this Planet.

Both you and your precious son's soul (unique energy) have been in my prayers.

Comfort, solace, blessings and courage to Zanti Regent and her son. May his energy surround, protect and comfort her forever. May her son's energy help her to tell her story and enlighten the World. And so it is! (A Church of Religious Science style prayer).

[omega minimo]

18. What if this is the falling domino that brings down the Bu$h&Co. regime?

Let's consider the implications of the state funeral, the intense opposition in Italy to the American war in Iraq and the sheer insanity of what happened.

Out on a walk in the spring sunshine I saw the news on the paper boxes and couldn't believe my eyes. The U.S. did this? After all the lies to get us into this war and all the shifting lies about why we were there, all the denial about the soldiers coming back killed and maimed, after all of that, the U.S. continues to make excuses and be unaccountable. The U.S. brainwashed public doesn't raise an eyebrow about one outrageous Bush administration fiasco after another..........

And now this. This unbelievable tragedy, this idiotic arrogance of the Americans, may be Bush's undoing. NBC news referred to American "rules of engagement" and showed military blowhards talking about why soldiers were right to fire on this car.

This is a human story that will grab the attention and passions of the planet, even the zombified Americans.

[IndianaGreen]

25. Italy must do the same thing Spain did and pull all of its troops out

of Iraq. Not one blood of Italian blood should be shed for the American Empire!

[DemOverseas]

32. Allies

What do you think Bush via the USA coffers is giving to Italy and other nations to stand with him in this war?

[IndianaGreen]

68. There is an ideological Axis of Evil

that binds the American Fuhrer Bush to his Fascist soul mate Berlusconi in Italy, and the rightwinger Howard in Australia. I can only describe Blair as the British Petain.

[Tigress DEM]

77. Not helpful.

Broad sweeping generalizations about an entire country based on one person mean that none of us who oppose this tyranny matter either.

[IndianaGreen]

88. We all are going to be dead, or rotting away in some concentration camp

These people won't give up power peacefully. Our elections are a sham!

[Tigress DEM]

108. We aren't dead yet. Americans won't give up without a fight.

Hitler was the first, so many people had no idea that someone could be that evil.

We know what we're dealing with and the world is watching. If things turn bad, we won't rot.

I understand your despair, but remember if you give up, you're making it easier for bushits to win. They have already taken enough from all of us.

I for one ain't giving them anything that they don't walk up personally and pry from me, and I'd like to see them try.

[regnaD kciN]

27. Nothing can bring down BushCo anymore...

We had our chance last November. To remove Bush from office, we'd not only have to push terms of impeachment through a Republican House, but get almost half of the Republican Senators (along with all of our own) to vote to convict. And, even if we did all that, what would we get? President Cheney!

It's too late, baby. Bush will be with us until 1/20/09.

:cry:

[understandinglife]

30. No. (nt)

[truth2power]

50. Yeah, if we're lucky it'll only be until 1/20/09. after that....

another worthless thug. :mad:

[Tigress DEM]

78. Wrong. 1st Impeachment can go several layers down.

I think there were about 19 litigation cases against Haliburton and since part of * going down will involve his unethical non-bid arrangements with Haliburton, it's gonna come up and Chenny will be gone.

2nd The atmoshpere around the DEMs is changing. This morning on Meet the Press the Majority Whip was practically begging Durbin to get the DEMS to the floor on SS.

repubs wrote in criticising DEMs for fighting tooth and nail, I for one told St Paul Pioneer Press 2 things:

1) We like our DEMS just the way they are - standing up to injustice.
2) I won't buy your paper until you start covering what is really going on in the world.

Even NPR has gotten a bit more ballsey in just the last few weeks.

We can win, but not with a microwave attitude. And I know, I get that way too. Standing in front of the microwave and tapping my foot because it's taking too long.

Political change is definately a macro thing and a keep the pressure and the lights on because when the evidence of their deeds come to light the repubs look pretty bad and we look pretty good.

Vote reform is on the agenda. Get our votes to count and we will shove the repubs out by the biggest landslide ever in 2008, assuming we can agree on a candidate. I wish we could talk about John Conyers in 2008. Solid DEM, solid.

[earth mom]

89. Conyers for President-Hell Yes!!! eom

[anarchy1999]

103. We can't wait for 2008, it has to be 2006. It is our last chance.

I want paper ballots and a pencil. Hell, I'll volunteer to stay all night into the next day to count my precinct.

No more machines.

[Tigress DEM]

107. I agree - the sooner the better.

[Chicago Democrat]

58. Lets hope Italy pulls out...

That would be a big consequense...

Then maybe we will..Though I doubt it.. No, even a Kerry win wouldn't have got us out.

We need a sea change. We need a PEACE CANDIDATE. (or a new party)

[cliss]

60. I agree with you, O.

I keep wondering......when will the Americans finally say they have had enough? When will this "Sleeping Giant" like some president (maybe FDR? called it) wake up?

We wonder every day here at the DU. Foreign countries wonder. I wonder.

I read somewhere that the ONLY people that the Bush administration fears are the Americans themselves. Not Iraqis. Not Iranians, or any other nation. Because the only ones who can really unseat these people are the Americans.

So why are they still putting up with this? To find the answer, we have to look at the average American. Today, he's still doing OK. Yes, unemployment is going up, and millions are out of work. I don't believe the 5.4% unemp. rate for a second. I know it's higher.

But he still has a house. And it's going up in value. Almost every person in my office owns a house. They are elated that the value of it has gone up, by quite a bit. My co-worker bragged the other day that "it's gone up by $100,000, so that was a really good investment".

My boss is even happier. He told me he could sell it for $639,000, even though it only cost him $200,000 to build. He's feeling really good these days. Believe me, as long as he's maintaining his "castle" and pouring more money into his "gold mine", he's not going to care what happens in Iraq. He just doesn't.

I think the key here is the average American and their perception of their own financial security. If enough props collapse under him, he will start to take a VERY hard look at what's going on in his government.

If the bottom falls out of the real estate market this year, like I've read it could, then things might change.

[omega minimo]

70. If you ain't part of the solution, you're part of the problem

Well, I've been waiting 25 years for Americans to snap out of their hypnotized state. After the "election" of Nov. 2004, I ain't gonna hold my breath.

On this thread I claim that Bush is continuing the legacy of Reagans' Big Lie. Why didn't people wake up when the news came that the FAA had 52 SPECIFIC warnings about suicide bomber airplanes in the U.S.? Which proved that the newly confirmed Sec. of State lied in 9-11 hearings and her confirmation hearings, when she accused St. Boxer of "impugning my integrity"?

That didn't raise an eyebrow amongst the zombified classes and why? A MSM victim I work with said, "Oh, I think we already knew that. It was in the 9-11 report." Right. She skipped the part where it was WITHHELD per Rove's command until after the 2004 "selection."

Yes, people love to say-- no matter how well-informed and politically aware they may be-- that Americans won't wake up until they "can't fill their gas tanks." My take on this now is the things are SO BAD, and people actually KNOW THIS, and are so AFRAID of the gang in the White House, that they don't want to THINK about ANY OF IT. At all.

The thing about speculator markets is that everyone wants to make a killing off the next sucker that comes along-- and not consider the possibility that they themselves may be stuck holding the bag (with a massively inflated-priced property inside). Recent history had the collapse of the 80's speculator art market and savings and loan debacle (which taxpayers paid for) and the 90's Enron house of cards, energy market collapse, Wall Street insider trading scandals and subsequent gutting of retirement accounts.

Two things here: At some point you gotta wonder what it takes for people to think "it affects them" enough to give a shit about the larger world or political situation. AND people have to take responsibility for their actions. You can't be a speculator and then complain when you get stuck with a sucker deal.

IMHO.

DU'ers, somewhere along our individual timelines got smacked with the stick of "If you ain't part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

:kick:

I think the solution here is not the information but how it reaches people. If MSM can brainwash people with "framing" and spinning stories tailored to an overarching agenda-- how do we combat that? What medium (as in media-- paper, new professional guild, non-partisan web news, brand new concept?) or level of credibility will it take to break through conventional Americans TRUST in the MSM?

At least it's a sense of suspended disbelief. People want to believe in leaders. Even when they're lying. That's why Repuglicans (typo but I'll leave it) succeed with their one-note, black and white messages. People don't have time to think?

:smoke:

[concord]

74. Excellent thoughtful post Omega

I totally agree with this:

>> things are SO BAD, and people actually KNOW THIS, and are so AFRAID of the gang in the White House, that they don't want to THINK about ANY OF IT. At all. <<

I also believe that as long as these folks have a home, are eating and their own children aren't dying either from lack of health care or in an illegal war, they will remain apathetic.

[Tigress DEM]

75. We ARE waking up, it just takes time to get a 200+ year ol' butt moving.

We've been hitting the media and it's helping a lot. They too are afraid of Americans - the purchase power we possess still can topple their empires if we just ignore them and turn to other means to get our real news.

We have reporters who are resigning "very publicly" Laurie (last name?) from Newsweek.

Meet the Press actually led a pretty (pre-Bushit) "normal" forum and the house whip for the DEMS walked out tall and proud on SS reform because the DEMS have gotten our message. There was an attempt at repub spin, but it came off like a MAD TV skit.

I still think there wasn't enough coverage on this incident, but it MAY turn out to be friendly fire that could have been prevented, without a concentrated effort to have her murdered. Which is different than I felt initially.

I look at the differences in what I KNOW about this case vs what I KNOW about the 04/03 bombing that killed 2 reporters in Baghdad.

In the Baghdad scenario soldiers were kept out of the loop and although the reporters were sending in GPS coordinates, those with the tank poised to shoot weren't given that information.

I don't know if when she passed those other checkpoints if her group checked in at them along the way or just managed to avoid them. I don't know if her group sent GPS info to the US forces. I don't know if anyone was thinking to let the US troops know ahead of time that she was enroute and if that information was witheld. I don't know if their cell phones went out because of a loss of coverage or if the US could have jammed their signal and for what reason.

I guess what I am saying is I want more coverage, more information and I will wait until I have the facts to judge what happened. But I still feel it was tragic and -at the very least- that the standard operational proceedure at checkpoints sucks - especially when a language barrier is involved.

This could be the ONE time there was no real malicous intent involved and even though bushits need serious spanking for the multitude of sins, I want to get them for something they really did and I want proof in hand when we administer the paddle.

[earth mom]

90. Excellent Post Omega!

IMO, it will take drastic events for the majority of people to wake the hell up. We're talking:

Massive Layoffs or the Depression II
or
Sky High Gasoline or No Gasoline
or
The Draft

It could get really ugly; not that it's not ugly enough right now as it is. :scared:

[omega minimo]

92. More drastic than hijacked elections, bankrupt treasury, warmongering, job

losses and a national "trickle up effect" for the richest of the Richie Riches?

Thanks fer the feedback Concord, Tigress and -- Golden Rule: I invoked your name in another thread just last night. You go on my faves list with LibertyorDeath. :hi:

TigressDem, I agree that we need facts to determine what really happened to the Italian journalist and rescuer, rather than jump to too many conclusions. However, here are some things we do know:

--In May, it will be 2 years since Bush announced "Mission Accomplished."
--The U.S. has occupied Iraq for longer than that.
--At some point, the U.S. is responsible for stability and security in Iraq-- and cannot perpetuate a free-fire free-for-all.
--It defies logic that the U.S. was totally unaware of this rescue or that vehicle carrying those individuals BEFORE it reached the checkpoint where they were gunned down.
--The Bush team lies
--The media lies

Matter of fact, the headline from yesterday about the attack on the journalist and death of her comrade is apparently a NON-STORY in the Sunday papers. Buried somewhere in there but who can find it? Are we to assume now that the more important a story is, the deeper it will be hidden in the paper's pages?

As to the "waking up" bit. I don't agree that a 230 year old system needs help getting up out of the chair. As I understand democracy, the definition is "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." i.e. STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS.

The hijacked election that followed the previous hijacked election and the ensuing investigation into vote fraud in Ohio (another story buried by MSM) and demonization of those of us concerned about a fraudulent election outcome (perpetrated by the MSM) and the mainstream American public didn't bat an eyelash?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's great that people are working on voter reform. What if so many MORE people are so jaded and disengaged that they don't bother to vote anyway?

The original patriots would look at the complacency, complicity and comfy duped-ness of today's citizens and view us like the slimy, plugged-in larval humans in the Matrix.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

102. Actually the "sleeping giant" reference came

from the Japanese admiral, Yamamoto, that commanded and planned the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He had studied in the US and knew that the industrial power of the US would eventually overcome the Japanese.

[anarchy1999]

104. Bring on the "New Draft". People in selected fields, ages 18 to 34.

Stand back and watch out. There is not going to be a viable anti-war, end the military/industrial complex that Ike E. so eloquently warned us of in his farewell speech until that happens.

Also, more people need to read General Smedley Butler and "War is a Racket".

[glitch]

110. 18 to 54 would be better - that would wake a few complacent asses up

and I think I read somewhere that they wanted to extend the upper limit.

[anarchy1999]

101. Well all we can continue to do is to hope something will bring this

regime down. It is up to us to make it happen, IMHO. Like I've heard time and again"

"Democracy is not a spectator sport". You can't tune in every 2 or 4 years just to vote. Democracy just doesn't work that way, nor does our Republic.

[understandinglife]

29. I called the Embassy of Italy in DC earlier this evening. I spoke to ...

...a pleasant Italian member of the staff.

I begged forgiveness for the crimes of my country.

I am so embarrassed.

Peace.

[DixieSticks]

87. Peace indeed

every time read about all of the madness and cruelty of this criminal administration I am sadden to the core over tragic loss.

[understandinglife]

91. Welcome to DU "DixieSticks" (nt)

[bpilgrim]

3. he is a HERO. a man who gave his life to protect FREEDOM OF SPEECH

to think i have to waste time arguing with sophist on DU about wether this was an oppsy or not is ridiculous.

this should become the rallying point around stopping the bush MADNESS in the ME.

if SYRIA had done this they would all be screaming for us to INVADE :crazy:

peace

[understandinglife]

5. Precisely. (nt)

[Guaranteed]

94. Yup. nt

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. 5 out of 7 national TV networks

....must be nice to have a real press.

[RetroLounge]

56. Yup, the two who did not must be affiliates of

CNN and Fox...

RL

[Chicago Democrat]

9. "He leaned over me, probably to protect me, and then he slumped down

"He leaned over me, probably to protect me, and then he slumped down, and I saw he was dead," she said.

[cal04]

10. Body of Italy agent returns home

51-year-old Nicola Calipari died as he shielded journalist Giuliana Sgrena from gunshots fired towards their car.

A brave and honest man
Thanks to have given your life in order to save that one of an other person





http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/743921.php&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2BNicola%2BCalipari%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

[NNN0LHI]

12. I have read he has a brother who works for the Pope at the Vatican

I don't know if he is involved in security or something else.

Don

[cal04]

19. He's a priest

The slain agent, Nicola Calipari, 50, was the brother of a priest who serves on a Vatican (news - web sites) advisory body, Vatican radio reported Saturday, and Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II sent a message of condolence to the family. The Italian government awarded Calipari a medal of valor.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_eu/italy_iraq_hostage_9

[NNN0LHI]

22. Thank you for the clarification

The story I had read earlier was vague.

Don

[bemildred]

13. Bravo Nicola. Rest in peace.

Italy can be proud of you, at least.

[CBHagman]

15. I remember Berlusconi's public grief...

...over the slayings of a number of carabinieri in Iraq. He seemed genuinely in agony.

Contrast that with the seemingly casual attitude of that thing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I don't think he registers that these are real lives being lost all the time, including thousands of Iraqis whose names we will never learn.

[Bluebear]

16. I can hear Bush's false "agony"

"No one wants to see anyone killed! I understand it! I understand it! And we weep and mourn this death! But I have a hard job to do in keeping America safe from the terrorists! And that's exactly what I'm going to do!"

There you go George, your Monday speech all written for you.

[omega minimo]

20. Blue Bear how did you get this pre-release text of Bush's speech?

Really, you can't make up weirder stuff than we're living now. When I read through your Bushspeak, I couldn't tell if it was what he had said-- or a spoof-- until your last line.

[Bluebear]

21. You are correct

If anyone had written this novel a decade ago it would not have sold.

[omega minimo]

23. "1984" did pretty well

And this tragedy is the sequel to the Reagan/Bush farce of the 80's-- with many of the same characters.

Without Reagan's Big Lie, where would Bush II be?



:kick:

[cliss]

61. Actually, this sounds very much

like the "Quickie" speech Bush cobbled together after the train bombing in Madrid last year.

I was listening to the news on the radio, driving to work. They were commenting on the horrific damage wrought from the terrorist attack. Suddenly, Bush comes on with a canned speech.

My finger quickly moved toward the dial. I always do that when I hear his sniveling voice which drives me crazy. But I decided to hear what he had to say, for once.

Bush's speech sounded VERY much like Blue Bear's "speech" up above. It was feigned sadness, it was so obvious. Bush's voice went down a few decibels, and he spoke slowly and sadly. The wording was almost exactly the one above.

[truth2power]

51. "That thing at 1600 Pennsylvania."...

I have great difficulty finding words to use in referring to Bush.

Rat-bastard? Well, some rats are kind of cute. And they're quite intelligent. Nah..

Pig? Hmm...pigs are smarter than dogs, I've heard. Wouldn't want to insult pigs.

"That THING" is very good, although I usually refer to him as an insect, but then many insects are useful to the environment.

What a state we are in when one can't even find a useful analogy to describe the supposed Leader of our country. <sigh>

[omega minimo]

67. How bout "Used Car Salesman"

That's what he acts like.
That's what he is.
Selling lemons.
Shrugging his shoulders.

[Tigress DEM]

82. How about "the pretender" ? or " * " ? or "b666" ? "GWII" ?

:hi:

[Bozita]

24. They fired 300-400 rounds at the car. How many hit the victim?

That's an astounding number of bullets.

[wicket]

26. Bless him.

:cry:

[Rex]

28. What about the 'patrol' that killed him?

Who are they?

[understandinglife]

31. "Giuliana had information...the US military did not want her to survive."

US attacked Sgrena: companion

05/03/2005 17:02 - (SA)

Rome - The companion of freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena on Saturday levelled serious accusations at US troops who fired at her convoy as it was nearing Baghdad airport, saying the shooting had been deliberate.

"The Americans and Italians knew about (her) car coming," Pier Scolari said on leaving Rome's Celio military hospital where Sgrena is to undergo surgery following her return home.

"They were 700m from the airport, which means that they had passed all checkpoints."

The shooting late on Friday was overheard by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office, which was on the phone with one of the secret service agents, said Scolari. "Then the US military silenced the cellphones," he charged. (more at the link):

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1671944,00.html

Peace.

[MUSTANG_2004]

33. Utter nonsense

If the US military wanted her dead, she would be dead, not wounded. Nobody was targeting her, it was an unfortunate accident.

After reading some of the military blogs about what the soldiers have experienced, it makes it much easier to understand how cars could get shot accidentally.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MUSTANG_2004]

36. Apologist?

I'm saying it was utter nonsense to say the army deliberately targeted her because they don't want her to talk.

I'm not sure how that makes me an apologist. I'm not justifying her shooting, I'm saying that it is FAR more likely an accident than deliberate.

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Is that why they only shot the people

in the back seat of the car?

The driver did not get hit.

[truth2power]

52. That is VERY interesting.

If that's the case, then how can anyone support the view that it was an accident.

300 - 400 rounds? And the driver didn't get hit? Hmm...looks like they were going after a particular target. If you wanted to actually STOP an approaching car, you'd aim for...uh...the driver. Ya' think?

Sheesh! Negroponte's probably shitting himself as we speak!

[chomskysright]

81. bears repeating: WHY WASN'T THE DRIVER KILLED????

[Tigress DEM]

83. Possible reasons

1) Why the passenger and not the driver? Automatic weapon fire isn't about sharpshooting, and it's hard to control. Maybe the patrol was mostly bent on stopping the vehicle and fired at the vehicle to get them to stop, bullets to the passengers incidental.

2) Why the passenger and not the driver? The agent riding "shotgun" probably had a weapon in hand while driving through hostile territory. The driver had a steering wheel in his. Depending on trajectory, maybe they didn't want the driver losing control and the car crashing into something.

[Cooley Hurd]

38. You might want to read this before saying anything further...

US attack against Italians in Baghdad was deliberate: companion

The companion of freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena on Saturday leveled serious accusations at US troops who fired at her convoy as it was nearing Baghdad airport, saying the shooting had been deliberate. "The Americans and Italians knew about (her) car coming," Pier Scolari said on leaving Rome's Celio military hospital where Sgrena is to undergo surgery following her return home. "They were 700 meters (yards) from the airport, which means that they had passed all checkpoints." The shooting late Friday was witnessed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office which was on the phone with one of the secret service agents, said Scolari. "Then the US military silenced the cellphones," he charged. "Giuliana had information, and the US military did not want her to survive," he added.
</snip>

No "oops" here, Mustang...

[MUSTANG_2004]

39. CNN quotes him here

"I hope the Italian government does something because either this was an ambush, as I think, or we are dealing with imbeciles or terrorized kids who shoot at anyone," he said, according to Reuters.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/06/italy.iraq/index.html

It's far more likely that some scared soldiers, or as he says, "terrorized kids", incorrectly saw a threat than that a general somewhere sent a hit squad to take out a journalist (from an allied country, no less!) that writes articles unfavorable to the U.S.

[Cooley Hurd]

40. US troops have been killing journalists since the start of the war...

http://csmonitor.com/2005/0218/dailyUpdate.html

Did US military target journalists in Iraq?

<snip>
The Guardian reports that Friday the International Federation of Journalists accused the US government of hiding behind a "culture of denial" over the deaths of journalists in Iraq, and said the US had to take "responsibility for its actions."

Joel Campagna of the Committee to Protect Journalists writes that while there is no evidence the US military is targeting journalists, too many journalists are dying "at the hands of the hands of US soldiers because of negligence or indifference ... And when journalists are killed, the military often seems ... unwilling to launch an adequate investigation or take steps to mitigate risk."

Mr. Campagna notes that while insurgent violence is the leading cause of death for journalists in Iraq (34 out of 54), "US military fire is the second-leading cause of death. At least nine journalists and two media support staff have died as a result of US fire in Iraq in the last 23 months."

Writing in Lew Rockwell.com, a Libertarian commentary website, Paul W. Lovinger notes several examples of journalists who were killed or wounded by US troops in Iraq. Specifically, he mentions the tank shelling of the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on April 8, 2003, even though the US military had been told that there were journalists at the hotel.

The French Press Agency reported next day that footage by France 3 television 'shows a US tank targeting the journalists’ hotel and waiting at least two minutes before firing.' The Department of Defense claimed the shooting was self-defense. Reporters Without Borders said that all the facts indicated 'exactly the opposite.' The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), based in Brussels, accused the Pentagon of a 'cynical whitewash.' "
</snip>

And, her stories weren't just "unfavorable" to the US, they were chock full o' charges of US war crimes in Fallujah (stuff that would make even Charles Graner blush)...

[MUSTANG_2004]

44. "Negligence or indifference"

Exactly, there's a difference between "targeting" someone and not taking steps to mitigate the risk.

The main reasons I think she wasn't targeted:

1) The US military does not have a history of targeting allied journalists.
2) If they had really wanted her dead, she'd be dead. Certainly more than one person in the car would have died.
3) There is a history of accidental killings of people in cars who were mistakenly thought to be suicide bombers.
4) Why didn't they finish the job? Why did they allow her to leave?
5) If she's already written articles "chock full o' charges of US war crimes in Fallujah", what's she got now that's so much worse? Specifically, they've weathered Abu Ghraib, the Palestine Hotel, a variety of unfortuante civilian deaths, so what's so explosive now that they decide to murder an allied journalist and risk a huge breach with Italy?

[Cooley Hurd]

47. I dunno, Mustang...

1) The US military does not have a history of targeting allied journalists.

Well, yes... they do:
http://foi.missouri.edu/federalfoia/cpjdisturbed.html
CPJ disturbed by lack of investigation into attack on Al-Jazeera's Baghdad bureau

Report
Commitee to Protect Journalists
October 10, 2003.

Six months after the U.S. shelled the Palestine Hotel in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, and an air strike hit the Baghdad bureau of the Qatar-based satellite broadcaster Al-Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) filed three new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to the incidents with the U.S. Defense Department.

In addition, CPJ reiterated its recommendations, including urging U.S. Central Command (Centcom) to ensure that U.S. forces take all necessary precautions to avoid harming members of the media.

The FOIA requests seek information regarding the two April 8 attacks, as well as the August 17 killing of Reuters cameraman Mazen Dana by a machine-gunner near the Abu Ghraib Prison, outside Baghdad, and the March 22 death of British ITV News reporter Terry Lloyd, whose two colleagues remain missing. The requests seek information including but not limited to military investigations that have been conducted into these incidents, the details of which U.S. officials have not made public.

CPJ was disturbed to discover this week that no investigation into the attack on Al-Jazeera's Baghdad bureau has been launched. CPJ calls on the U.S. Defense Department and Centcom to ensure that a thorough and public investigation is started immediately.

José Couso, a cameraman with Spanish television station Telecinco, and Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk were killed on April 8 when a U.S. tank fired on the Palestine Hotel, where the majority of the international press corps in Iraq was headquartered during the U.S.-led war. Al-Jazeera correspondent Tareq Ayyoub was killed earlier that morning when U.S. aircraft bombed the Baghdad bureau's generator.

In addition to Ayyoub, Couso, Dana, and Protsyuk, recent information indicates that U.S. and Iraqi forces may also be responsible for the death of ITV News's Lloyd.
<snip>

2) If they had really wanted her dead, she'd be dead. Certainly more than one person in the car would have died.

Nicola Calipari was shot in the head while lying on top of Sgrena, so it's probably safe to say Sgrena was covered in his blood and brains. Sgrena was also wounded, which might've put her into shock, rendering her unconscious. By the time the US troops realized she was still alive, there were probably witnesses that would've prevented them from "finishing the job."

3) There is a history of accidental killings of people in cars who were mistakenly thought to be suicide bombers.

Correct, but accounts from the survivors say the car was not speeding, or acting in any way that could've caused them to be mistaken for a suicide bomber.


4) Why didn't they finish the job? Why did they allow her to leave?

See my answer to #2

5) If she's already written articles "chock full o' charges of US war crimes in Fallujah", what's she got now that's so much worse? Specifically, they've weathered Abu Ghraib, the Palestine Hotel, a variety of unfortunate civilian deaths, so what's so explosive now that they decide to murder an allied journalist and risk a huge breach with Italy?

I don't know, but it must be pretty bad, given they tried to whack her...

[Tigress DEM]

79. The story on Fallujah hasn't been published yet, only started.

Still, I am waiting for evidence, however, what happened in Baghdad shows the US is showing a flagrant disregard for the press and that puts them in harms way.

Even so, in the case of "friendly fire" there is supposed to be an outpouring of remorse that such an awful thing happened and attempts to root out the cause of the problem.

Signs at 200-500 yards out in multiple languages, "Stop when you see lights flashed at you, or you will be shot." would be helpful.

I mean you step on a friends toe, you say sorry. You back your car over their kid playing in your driveway and kill him because you didn't look first, you do a hell of a lot more than apologize.

Even in the least "guilty" situation, US bullets killed this man and Italy deserves a REAL apology and a change of attitude toward press in Iraq and a change in this procedure which has resulted in too many unnecessary deaths.

[TahitiNut]

57. It's been my understanding since I was in 'Nam ...

... that one of the techniques employed in a 'hit' is to deploy some trigger-happy troops to such a task, not with explicit orders to take out some target but with a mission and 'briefing' that elevates the probability that they'd pull triggers before clearing leather.

The entire psychological impact of a "freefire zone" was one of little or no hesitancy to see deer and kill cows. When you tell a bunch of guys armed with M16's and M70's (and plenty of ammo) that "they're all enemies" and then send them on what's officially billed as a recon patrol, you can usually be assured there'll be steak on the menu pretty soon.

The beauty is one of command deniability. It's a "hang 'em out to dry" approach - mission accomplished.

[Schema Thing]

86. And then add a sniper seperately.... and viola, death to your

commie journalist!

[Tigress DEM]

76. OK, how did the US know and who in the US knew?

I've seen this piece and initially I was on board, but I need specifics.

There are accusations and they may be fully true and provable and I don't have a problem believing them if they are, but I need full facts.

For instance, if you look at Will Pitt's coverage of those reporters who were killed in Baghdad, it's all there in the facts.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/022505A.shtml

Even in the least awful scenario any type of "friendly fire" is stupid and should be avoided. We bombed the red cross 3 times for God's sake. On purpose or out of stupidity?

Neither is acceptable, one is punishable in a court of law. Although, some levels of stupidty do come down to gross negligence.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DoYouEverWonder]

42. You can tell when a story is really bad

by the number of operatives that show up to spread the government's POV.

[MUSTANG_2004]

45. Expressing dissent makes me an operative?

Saying that the US military wouldn't target a journalist makes me an operative?

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[w13rd0]

73. But saying that the US military wouldn't target a journalist...

...is lying. They would, they have, and they do. Denying it doesn't make it go away.

[Tigress DEM]

85. Personally, I wouldn't say operative, but I think you're missing a point.

Making someone an upfront target or even an assigned covert target is probably not what is happening here.

However, that doesn't mean there wasn't reason to want her dead and arrangments made that would make it possible.

Did you read Will Pitt's investigative report about Baghdad?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/022505A.shtml

The soldiers on the front line were used by people higher up to bring their deaths about by keeping them out of the information loop. I don't know if that is what has happened here, but although I support our troops in general I don't support these broken processes that produce dead allies and no accountability on our side to do what is correct and get them fixed.

[truth2power]

53. Thanks. n/t

[Ms. Clio]

98. And you never ever see them any other time n/t

[leQ]

59. why would you put trigger-happy soldiers at checkpoints?

wouldn't someone have known about her release and had a heads up that she was on her way?

something really stinks about this. how many times have we heard an apology weeks after denials have played out?

[understandinglife]

64. Puke.Snooze.Bye(nt)

[Ms. Clio]

96. Utter nonsense

Just because the U.S. military wants someone dead, does not mean it automatically happens.

Or why is there still an insurgency after the horror of Fallujah?

[anarchy1999]

105. Utter nonsense? You are way too new here to post such a thread.

You need to do more research and maybe post less. Catch up first.

[sweettater]

35. I posted this on another thread

Does anyone remember this?


U.S. Used Mustard gas, Nerve gas, and Burning Chemicals on Iraqis in Fallujah.

Seems it was reported some time back. If this is true which I hope to hell it is not, this is the reason she was targeted? She was going to expose it.

[DoYouEverWonder]

43. She already had - Napalm Raid on Falluja?

Napalm Raid on Falluja?
73 charred bodies -- women and children -- were found

23 November 2004

«We buried them, but we could not identify them because they were charred from the napalm bombs used by the Americans». People from Saqlawiya village, near Falluja, told al Jazeera television, based in Qatar, that they helped bury 73 bodies of women and children completely charred, all in the same grave. The sad story of common graves, which started at Saddam’s times, is not yet finished. Nobody could confirm if napalm bombs have been used in Falluja, but other bodies found last year after the fierce battle at Baghdad airport were also completely charred and some thought of nuclear bombs. No independent source could verify the facts, since all the news arrived until now are those spread by journalists embedded with the American troops, who would only allow British and American media to enrol with them. But the villagers who fled in the last few days spoke of many bodies which had not been buried: it was too dangerous to collect the corpses during the battle.

Yesterday, for the first time since the beginning of the military campaign, the American Headquarters allowed a convoy of the Red Crescent (the Iraqi Red Cross) to enter the city with 7 ambulances and two trucks filled with food. In the past days the convoys of the humanitarian organizations were stopped on the other side of Eufrathes. Thus maybe we will now be able to obtain some more news on the conditions of the people who are left in the city -- the majority fled -- during 15 days of fierce and uninterrumpted attacks.

http://www.ilmanifesto.it/pag/sgrena/en/420dd721e0ff0.html


Now you see why they so desperately wanted to shut her up.

[TahitiNut]

49. Recent related threads in LBN ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1288442
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1287949
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1286252
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1287674
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1288478
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1286417
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1286617
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1286132
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1287791
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1286002
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1284364
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1286103
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1285535

[Cooley Hurd]

54. *snarf*

:D

[DoYouEverWonder]

55. Calipari's coffin arrives at Ciampino airport

Nicola Calipari's coffin arrives at Ciampino airport in Rome. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has expressed regret for the killing of Calipari in a phone call to his Italian counterpart Antonio Martino.

[robbedvoter]

62. 'I saw the heads of my two little girls come off'

'I saw the heads of my two little girls come off'
April 2 2003, 11:38 AM
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/02/1048962796085.html?oneclick=true
An Iraqi mother in a van fired on by US soldiers says she saw her two young daughters decapitated in the incident that also killed her son and eight other members of her family.
The children's father, who was also in the van, said US soldiers fired on them as they fled towards a checkpoint because they thought a leaflet dropped by US helicopters told them to "be safe", and they believed that meant getting out of their village to Karbala.more...

[dArKeR]

63. How can AP's MARIA SANMINIATELLI write 'sped' when Sgrena said it's not

true?
 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


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_eu/italy_iraq_hostage

[Chicago Democrat]

65. Lies inside lies... This reporter was going to report on illegal weapons

used against Iraqi fighters and I believe she was targeted on purpose. Our military is out of control and unnaccountable and noone is in charge except liars and fanatics.

[IndianaGreen]

66. A single round to the temple, in a hail of bullets?

Either a very lucky shot, or an execution.

[IndianaGreen]

69. "The Americans don't want you to go back."

Shot hostage disputes U.S. account
Sunday, March 6, 2005 Posted: 1658 GMT (0058 HKT)

"The driver started yelling that we were Italians. 'We are Italians, we are Italians.' Nicola Calipari threw himself on me to protect me and immediately, I repeat, immediately I heard his last breath as he was dying on me. I must have felt physical pain, I didn't know why."

She then thought of something her captors had told her: "The Americans don't want you to go back."

The left-leaning Il Manifesto even accused U.S. forces on Saturday of "assassinating" Calipari.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/06/italy.iraq/index.html

[BrklynLiberal]

71. From Will Pitt's FYI

U.S. military representatives claim the car was speeding at the checkpoint, and that warning shots were fired before the final assault. Sgrena rejected this claim, stating their car was driving at a normal rate of speed and that no warning shots were fired.

Was Giuliana Sgrena deliberately targeted?


A few facts to consider:

1. The agent who was killed died while shielding Sgrena with his own body, according to Reuters. "He leaned over me, probably to protect me, and then he slumped down, and I saw he was dead," she said. This could mean one of two things: Either the agent was reacting as trained to the gunfire and was protecting his principle, or he saw that she was the target of the fire.

2. Pier Scolari, companion to Sgrena, has stated the attack was deliberate, according to Agence France Presse. "The Americans and Italians knew about (her) car coming," Scolari said. "They were 700 meters (yards) from the airport, which means that they had passed all checkpoints. Giuliana had information, and the US military did not want her to survive."

3. The chief editor of Sgrena's newspaper Il Manifesto, Gabriele Polo, branded Calipari's death a "murder". "He was hit in the head," he said.

4. For a journalist like Sgrena to be deliberately targeted, a motive would have to exist. An examination of the work she was doing in Iraq, particularly about the annihilation of Fallujah, makes it clear that she was disbursing information the U.S. military and civilian command structure do not want widely known. A few examples of her reports:

Ten thousand Iraqis in US and British prisons

Napalm Raid on Falluja?

The death throes of Fallujah

Interview with an Iraki woman tortured at Abu Graib

Several other articles in this vein can be found down the left column of this page.

A longer and more detailed examination of these allegations has been written by Luciana Bohne at Online Journal. Give that article a careful read.

Both the Italian people and the Italian government are outraged at the attack upon Sgrena and the death of Agent Calipari. Calipari's coffin arrived at Rome's Ciampino airport aboard a C-130 military plane. His wife, mother and daughter broke down in tears as his casket, draped in an Italian flag, was carried out by a guard of honor. Italy has been one of the most reliable allies for the Bush administration in Iraq, but this attack has soured that relationship as a mounting sense of fury grips that nation.

They are demanding a full investigation. Given the close relationship between the governments of Berlusconi and Bush, and given the fact that Italy has been unwavering in their support of the Iraq invasion and occupation, the demands for an investigation carry added weight. Hopefully, it will happen. We need to know what took place at that Baghdad checkpoint, and why. If there is merit to Luciana Bohne's article, it is also worth asking who actually kidnapped Sgrena in the first place.

more...
http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/3/6/114241/5457

[SodoffBush]

72. The US is going to investigate itself?

Since Sgrena feels the attack was deliberate, why would a US promise to Berlussconi to investigate sooth Italian concerns, Berlussconi's in particular? Practically the first thing out of Berlussconi's mouth was that Italian troops would remain in Iraq. Why wouldn't Italian troop presence be an immediate negotiable if the US is targeting its supposed allies?

What is in it for Italy to remain in Iraq? Or is it simply multi billionaire Berlussconi who has the most to gain?

The Italians should mass and demand an immediate exit from Iraq. Nothing short of that will do.

[Tigress DEM]

80. I think they have already called for UN investigation

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12761

<snip>
"It is clear that his enquiry cannot be conducted just by the US army which in the past, especially in the case of the Palestine Hotel shooting that killed two journalists, produced reports aimed solely at exonerating the military," Ménard said, adding, "we demand to know the full truth about this distressing affair."

[SodoffBush]

84. Whichever people still have control of their govt. should do an end-around

the US and put heavy pressure on any national/international agencies that can get some answers. Who did the shooting? What were their orders? Any country that is supporting the US in any way in Iraq needs to speak out against the US's outrageous and undemocratic policy of silencing journalists in the Iraq debacle. Not only speak out, but pull out all support from the clearly rogue USA. Not to do so jeopardizes the freedom of everyone on earth, literally.

[Tigress DEM]

106. My gut says there isn't evidence to support targeting ...

and the problem with that is what the US has done is enough to bring outrage, but what if the one journalist who has the public's sympathy turns out to not have the evidence of real wrong doing?

What if it was mostly a miscommunication and the bushits can spin it that they are ALL just misunderstandings?

[riverwalker]

93. We can honor Nicola Calipari

by bringing the stories of Fallujah to the world. Nicola Calipari lost his life trying to protect Giuliana Sgrena, who risked her life to tell the world the stories.

[IronLionZion]

95. it's nice to see people value human life

and honor real bravery and sacrifice. RIP Nicola Calipari. Bravo for giving your life for freedom and to save another's life.

Our leaders tend to have a cavalier attitude about these things.

I'm going to reserve judgement on the soldiers who did the shooting. The real criminals are in Washington.

[Flammable Materials]

97. I'm ashamed. n/t

[sr_pacifica]

99. Contact White House and reps

I urge everyone to flood the White House and your representatives in Congress to investigate this horrific event. We need to put the pressure on since the news media is giving this story short shrift. Let the administration know that they are not going to get off easily. Let's make noise, comrades!