Posted on 03/04/2005 7:17:40 PM PST by saquin
ROME, March 4 -- U.S. troops fired on a vehicle carrying an Italian journalist to freedom after a month in captivity Friday, wounding her and at least one other person and killing an Italian intelligence agent who had helped to arrange her release.
[...]
In Baghdad, the U.S. military said in a statement that the car was fired upon shortly before 9 p.m. local time as it was "approaching a coalition checkpoint in western Baghdad at a high rate of speed." The statement said that "the people at the checkpoint attempted to warn the driver to stop by using hand and arm signals, flashing white lights and firing warning shots in front of the car."
[...]
A State Department official said a U.S. hostage coordinator had been working closely with the Italians but that initial reports indicated Sgrena's release was not communicated to either the U.S. Embassy or the military in Baghdad, Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler reported.
It was not immediately clear whether Sgrena was rescued or a ransom was paid, the official said.
The Italians were in a civilian vehicle and were wearing "local clothing" when they came under fire at a place called Checkpoint 504 - Camp Victory, the official said. He said they were warned to stop but failed to do so.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The car carrying the Italians approached a checkpoint "at a high rate of speed" at 8:55 p.m. local time, the military said in a statement. A Pentagon spokesman said Ms. Sgrena was being brought to Camp Victory, the American command headquarters near Baghdad International Airport, along one of the most dangerous roads in Iraq.
A State Department official in Washington said that an American hostage coordinator in Iraq had not been informed of Ms. Sgrena's release. The military did not know the hostage was in the car, the official said.
Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said that soldiers flashed white lights, used arm and hand signals and fired warning shots as the car approached them at high speed, and fired at the car only when it did not slow down or stop.
Insurgents regularly detonate roadside bombs and shoot at military and civilian vehicles along the five-mile road. American soldiers across Iraq are wary of speeding cars approaching checkpoints or convoys.
[...]
Italian and American officials did not give any explanation of how Ms. Sgrena had come to be freed on Friday and traveling in a civilian car to Camp Victory, unaccompanied by an American escort.
Tomorrow: Eason Jordan says its proof he was right
heh
No official logo, no contact with a road block, ignore warning lights and even warning shots....
Shame that Ms. Sgrena was 'rescued' by these idiots; only to be shot by the 'Good Guys'. But how in the #&*$ are our men supposed to differentiate between a suicide bomber, and a rescue force that wears civilian clothes, unmarked cars and ignores warnings?
Perhaps if the Italians would pull their collective heads out of their nether regions; they would know that suicide drivers have made it a habit of using cars as bombs.
The driver should have known better. You have to wonder what he was thinking.
They work that hard to get her released then the idiot driver charges right at American soldiers?! What the heck were they supposed to do?!
And if he does that, he's a bigger loon than I thought.
They are already pulling that angle at DU...
I think this was a set up. Why bumrush a checkpoint?
Reminds me of the asshats who quickly reach for their glove compartment after being pulled over, and while the cop is approaching the vehicle. Duh.
you charge US troops we fire back. Nothing wrong here, move along.... non-news story.
No. It was all Karl Rove's doing.
sorry... it was a joke... It was ONLY a joke... do not try this at home... all characters in this post are fictional and bear no resemblance to ugly...
Oh I'm sure the European MSM will try and make it one.
oh brother... they really are nuts
Lose the moles and the moustache, baby!
commie do-do does not stink!
Or maybe the it is not true that the Italians were speeding? This story looks fishy.
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