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Italy steps up row with US over slain secret agent
Times Online ^ | 3/8/05 | Phillipe Naughton

Posted on 03/08/2005 10:13:31 AM PST by Crackingham

Gianfranco Fini, the Italian Foreign Minister, increased a diplomatic row with the United States today by demanding that Washington identify and punish those responsible for the shooting of Rome’s top intelligence agent in Iraq. Signor Fini dismissed the American version that a lack of communication was responsible for the death of Nicola Calipari, who died in a hail of gunfire from US troops as he escorted a freed Italian hostage to Baghdad airport on Friday. Signor Calipari had made "all the necessary contacts" with US authorities in Baghdad, the minister said.

In his account to parliament of the shooting, which has sparked a diplomatic row with the US, Signor Fini said: "The reconstruction of the event does not coincide fully with what the American authorities have told us."

He said that the car carrying Signor Calipari and the freed hostage, Guiliana Sgrena, to freedom was not speeding and was not ordered to stop by US troops, as American officials have indicated. He also dismissed as "groundless" a suggestion from Signora Sgrena, the hostage in question, that American forces had ambushed the car because they disagreed with Italy's policy of paying the ransom demands of Iraqi kidnappers.

Italy reportedly paid more than $6 million (£3.1 million) for Signora Sgrena's release, which was negotiated by Signor Calipari himself.

"The car was travelling at a velocity that couldn't have been more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) per hour," Signor Fini said.

Rejecting the ambush claim, Signor Fini said: "It was an accident. This does not prevent - in fact it makes it a duty - for the Government to demand that light be shed on the murky issues, that responsibilities be pinpointed, and, where found, that the culprits be punished.

"We ask for truth and justice."

The minister took pains to point out, however, that Italy has an "old and empathetic friendship" with the United States, adding: "We hope that that within the next few hours this affirmed wish for loyal co-operation will yield its first major concrete result.

"We hope that this is not an opportunity to whip up political campaigns and to sow anti-American sentiment in public opinion, which certainly have no reason to exist."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abduction; alkubaysi; calipari; extortion; fini; gianfrancofini; guilianasgrena; hostage; hostagetaking; ipa; italianhostage; kidnapping; kubaysi; nicolacalipari; sgrena; terrorfinancing; terrorfunding; terroristfinancing; terroristfunding; vincentcannistraro
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To: Crackingham

Funny, On CNN and on Limbaugh's radio program today I've heard that the Foreign Minister has called the incident an accident.


21 posted on 03/08/2005 10:24:15 AM PST by mewzilla (Has CBS retracted the story yet?)
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To: mewzilla

Why did the Italians try to run that checkpoint? Inquiring minds want to know...


22 posted on 03/08/2005 10:25:00 AM PST by mewzilla (Has CBS retracted the story yet?)
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To: Dog

I just watched the Norwegian evening news. Apparently, the terrorists have released a tape, denying that they received any money, and instead claiming that their "sources" had revealed that CIA wanted to kill the woman.

Unbelievable.

Cheers.


23 posted on 03/08/2005 10:26:42 AM PST by Eurotwit
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To: Crackingham
Six million dollars can buy a lot of small arms and ammo. Effectively, the Italians have provided aid to the enemy through the negotiation of a hostage release. It's sad and unfortunate that a man was killed, but the recievers of the six million are more likely to kill more than one person with that sort of cash.
24 posted on 03/08/2005 10:27:06 AM PST by hiredhand (Pudge the Indestructible Kitty lives at http://www.justonemorefarm.com)
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To: Eurotwit
Did the Norwegians refer to them as terrorists?
25 posted on 03/08/2005 10:27:39 AM PST by mewzilla (Has CBS retracted the story yet?)
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To: Crackingham

I mean.......WTF was she doing in Iraq to begin with? Hoping to be the next communist president of Iraq? (rolls eyes) I don't feel sorry for her. Just sorry that some great guy lost his life for her globe trotting where she didn't belong.


26 posted on 03/08/2005 10:27:42 AM PST by ar15girl (And did I mention Diane Feinstein is ugly too?)
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To: Crackingham
$6 million to free a communist journalist from it's kidnappers? And the life of one of their intelligence agents?

That's $6 million, and one human life more than I would give.

27 posted on 03/08/2005 10:27:46 AM PST by Daaave ( I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it.)
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To: mewzilla

Because they were James Bond wannabes.


28 posted on 03/08/2005 10:28:08 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Crackingham
We didn't ambush her and we didn't kill her.

The real question is WHY NOT?

SO9

29 posted on 03/08/2005 10:28:32 AM PST by Servant of the 9 (Trust Me)
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To: Dog Gone

FWIW, I don't think so. Maybe my tinfoil chapeau's too tight, but I think there's a reason other than stupidity involved :)


30 posted on 03/08/2005 10:29:23 AM PST by mewzilla (Has CBS retracted the story yet?)
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To: Crackingham

31 posted on 03/08/2005 10:29:33 AM PST by Chinito (We ARE the people our parents warned us about....)
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To: Dog
He said that the car carrying Signor Calipari and the freed hostage, Guiliana Sgrena, to freedom was not speeding and was not ordered to stop by US troops, as American officials have indicated

And she is not dead -- why?

32 posted on 03/08/2005 10:30:03 AM PST by Howlin (Free the Eason Jordan Tape!!!)
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To: mewzilla

Probably not. I think they called them hostage takers.

Cheers.


33 posted on 03/08/2005 10:32:56 AM PST by Eurotwit
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To: Crackingham
Calipari didn't die "in a hail of bullets." He died from one fired at very close range, probably from a hand gun. And, she probably pulled the trigger! We'll know once the forensic examination has ended.

She is a long time Eurinal commie who would easily exchange the life of a government agent for a chance to give the US a black eye.

Just because she says the US troops shot Calipari doesn't mean that's fact. The US fire could have come in response to several shots from inside the car.

34 posted on 03/08/2005 10:33:27 AM PST by Tacis ("John ("What SF-180?") Kerry - Still Shilling For Those Who Would Harm America!")
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To: edskid

Josef Stalin. Ask Hillary.


35 posted on 03/08/2005 10:33:52 AM PST by MisterRepublican (I DEMAND THAT FOX NEWS REHIRE JENNIFER ECCLESTON!)
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To: Crackingham

These Italians have some nerve! They "ransom" this communist with SIX MILLION DOLLARS to terrorists, which will fund the slaughter of who knows how many innocent people? She loves the terrorists anyway, who knows if she was really kidnapped or just doing fundraising for a cause she loves?

Why aren't people more outraged that Italy gave terrorists 6 million dollars? If they want to avoid harming innocent people, then their action is the biggest crime of all.


36 posted on 03/08/2005 10:34:51 AM PST by Mount Athos
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To: BushisTheMan

I'm mostly ticked that money might be used to buy arms that ends up killing Americans.

Not just Americans and coalition troops, but Iraqis, too. How many hundreds of Iraqi police & military recruits (and bystanders) will die from explosives bought w/ Italian money?

37 posted on 03/08/2005 10:35:44 AM PST by elli1
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To: Grendel9

Let me get this right. This person who was just released from a real stressful ordeal isn't first of all real anxious to get to a safe area so as to not be kidnapped again. Then while casually cruising through the dangerous streets of Iraq, she's paying attention to the speedometer to make sure the driver is not speeding. Was she afraid that they may get a ticket? I would think that if they were really trying to ensure their safety, they would be flagging down ANY people in uniform to help provide ensure safe passage. Stinkin communistas!
Proud to be Italian American!


38 posted on 03/08/2005 10:35:52 AM PST by Always Independent
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To: Crackingham
"We ask for truth and justice."

OK, you got it. She was a communist and was anti-American, anti-freedom and pro-terrorist. Need we say more?


39 posted on 03/08/2005 10:35:55 AM PST by unixfox (AMERICA - 20 Million ILLEGALS Can't Be Wrong!)
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To: Crackingham

I hate to say it but now the Italians can screw themselves too.


40 posted on 03/08/2005 10:35:56 AM PST by An Old Marine (Freedom isn't Free)
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