Posted on 03/09/2005 11:15:29 AM PST by Cableguy
A senior U.S. military official tells ABC News he believes the investigation into the fatal shooting of an Italian intelligence officer by U.S. troops in Iraq will ultimately prove the officer's car was traveling in excess of 100 mph.
The car, which was carrying a newly released Italian hostage to freedom, came under fire from U.S. troops at a checkpoint Friday. Intelligence officer Nicola Calipari was hit by a bullet and killed as he threw himself in front of the freed hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena. Sgrena and another intelligence officer were wounded.
The shooting has outraged Italians, who mourned Calipari at a state funeral Monday.
Sgrena has said she believes the car was deliberately ambushed because the United States opposes Italy's policy of negotiating with hostage-takers. The White House has dismissed claims that the shooting was anything but an accident as "absurd."
U.S. Official Says Driver Almost Lost Control Several Times
Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini told his country's parliament today that the shooting was an accident, but he contradicted the U.S. military's account of the incident. The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, which controls Baghdad, said in a statement that the vehicle was "traveling at high speeds" and did not stop at the checkpoint, despite a number of warnings. The military said U.S. soldiers only opened fire after the car ignored the warnings.
Fini, however, said the car was traveling no faster than 25 mph, and disputed the U.S. military's assertion that several warnings were given. He said the U.S. government must conduct a thorough investigation, "that responsibilities be pinpointed, and, where found, that the culprits be punished."
But, according to the senior U.S. military official, the car was traveling at speeds of more than 100 mph. The driver almost lost control several times before the shooting as the car hydroplaned through large puddles, the official told ABC News. The car had not gone through any previous checkpoints, the source added.
The official also denied previous claims that a tank opened fire on the car.
Fini said Calipari, an experienced officer who had negotiated the release of Sgrena and other hostages in Iraq in the past, had contacted U.S. authorities to let them know the car carrying the freed hostage would be on its way to the airport.
But according to the U.S. military official, Italians did not coordinate the transport with U.S. or coalition forces, and, as a result, U.S. soldiers did not know who was in the car. They instead believed the car was carrying a bomb.
And the Italians say the car was stopped. Which I'm sure is BS. There's no reason for our soldiers to kill someone in a stopped car.
What gets me is that if I thought that the road stop ahead was bad guys - I too would try to speed past them ASAP.
In Iraq HOW does one know if it's good guys or thugs at the stop ahead?
Yes, the driver of the car should be prosecuted.
One can't rule out the bad guys flying our flag or such to look legit either.
Tough deal no matter how you look at it.
Glad the war is over there and not here in our backyard (yet)
It has been widely reported (and shown on TV) that this was a well-known inspection stop.
Why would anyone even consider shooting at a car traveling 100 mph in a country where the next car you see may blow up?
Go figure...
Wow! That's the first time I heard that.
Why would anyone in Iraq who knew there were American soldiers operating an inspection stop need to travel in excess of 100 MPH?
That's why they should have coordinated their drive with the US military.
Next bogus story by a communist reporter please. I'm done with this one.
This road is a main highway in Baghdad. The gent killed was the head of Italian intelligence, I think he knew we have had Bradley tanks and humvies at roadblocks into the airport since day one. The roadblocks are well lighted, manned by military personnel, and a fact of life on this road. Everyone who has traveled to and from the Baghdad airport knows this.
Thou Shalt Have No Honor. Thou Shalt Lie Out Thine Bootie If It Embarrasses The Great Satan. Thou Shalt Saturate Thy Brethren MSM Whores Early And Often With Shouted Falsehoods So The Truth, When Known, Will Sound Like But A Whisper And The Damage Be Done."
If it was going 100 mph, that might explain why only four or five of the 400 million billion shots fired at it actually hit anything.
The speed of the vehicle should be easy to determine using skid marks. The driver will be the one on whom the direct blame goes for this incident. If the "kidnap victim" is found to have staged her "capture", she will be the one ultimately responsible for this incident.
I don't understand your post at all.
The motives of the Italians should be investigated especially with respect to the question of if she was actually held for ransom by insurgents.
In light of the suspicious Italian actions to avoid contact with Americans, it seems perfectly reasonable to surmise that no abduction actually occurred and to conclude the ransom was actually fundraising for friendly insurgents with duped Italians as the money source.
Anyone who has ever driven in Italy knows that what an Italian might describe as fast is somewhere near the sound barrier. Anything else is crawling to them. Also, lines in the road are regarded as suggestions. The same goes for traffic signs.
I still feel very bad for the brave man who lost his life. It's a pity the Commie b!tch didn't take the bullet instead. Italy could use the hero, and could very much afford to lose an old mealy-mouthed Commie wench.
A group of insurgents, flying an American flag, standing in the road stopping cars less than a mile from the airport, the site of a very large American military base? I would feel pretty safe in ruling that out.
I doubt there's a automobile in Iraq that "goes 100 MPH."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.