Reports: Italy, U.S. Differ on Agent Death

[Career Prole]

ROME (AP) - Italy and the United States disagree over the findings of an investigation into the accidental shooting death by U.S. soldiers of an Italian intelligence agent in Baghdad, news reports said Monday.

One report said Italians on the panel were refusing to sign off on the U.S. conclusions.

Italian state TV said both sides were trying for last-minute mediation to reconcile ``contrasting versions'' of the shooting by Italian and U.S. investigators.

<snip>

Without citing sources, Rome daily Il Messaggero said the American conclusions ``exculpate from every accusation'' the U.S. soldiers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4961692,00.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Refusing to sign off on the bullshit...

:think:

[meganmonkey]

2. I hope the Italians stick to their guns, so to speak

and don't give in. I would really like to know the real truth on this, although I don't know if that is possible.

I wonder if Berlusconi has much say over this - given his lack of popularity right now, he has a strong motive to keep this alive.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. US troops cleared over shooting (Giuliana Sgrena)

25 April, 2005

US military investigators have cleared American soldiers of any wrongdoing over the death of an Italian agent, who was shot at a checkpoint in Baghdad.

Nicola Calipari was killed by US forces as he travelled in a car near Baghdad airport after securing the release of Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena.

Ms Sgrena, who had been held by Iraqi kidnappers, was hurt in the incident.

The US soldiers were "not culpable" according to the US military report, which Italy has refused to endorse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4483949.stm


The US tries to get away with murder again.

[rooboy]

4. Negroponte's hit squads are always exonerated. n/t

[0007]

8. Always!

BTW is the price of petro going up in Australia? And how much do you pay?

TIA

[flordehinojos]

5. did anyone seriously expect u.s. investigators to come up with any sort of

different results?

:sarcasm:

[420inTN]

6. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1420706

[UpInArms]

7. related: Pentagon: Soldiers not at fault in Italian's death

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/25/iraq.italian.decision/

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. military investigation has cleared American troops of any wrongdoing in the shooting death last month of an Italian security agent in Baghdad, according to a senior Pentagon official.

The agent's death strained relations between the United States and Italy, two stalwart allies in the Iraq war.

The U.S. soldiers involved will face no disciplinary actions, the Pentagon official said Monday.

There was no Italian government reaction to the reported findings early Tuesday. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in the process of reforming his government, which will not be official until it passes a confidence vote scheduled for Thursday.

Nicola Calipari, 50, was killed March 4 shortly after securing the release of hostage Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena. The newly freed journalist was wounded in the incident.

...more...

no surprise there :grr: