Italy says stress, inexperience played part in killing of Italian agent in Iraq

CNEWS ^ | 5/2/05 | Staff

[traderrob6]

ROME (AP) - Italian investigators have concluded that stress, inexperience and fatigue among U.S. soldiers played a role in the shooting death of an Italian agent in Baghdad, according to a report released Monday. [snip]

The probe found no evidence that the March 4 killing of intelligence agent Nicola Calipari was deliberate.[snip]

Calipari was killed just after he secured the release of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena from Iraqi militants who held her hostage for a month. U.S. soldiers fired on the Italians' vehicle as it approached the checkpoint near Baghdad's airport. Sgrena and another Italian agent were wounded.[snip]

U.S. investigators, in their report made public Saturday, said the American soldiers gave adequate warning, beaming a light and firing warning shots, as the car travelled on the road toward Baghdad airport. They cleared the U.S. soldiers of any wrongdoing, sparking outrage in Italy, where Calipari had been hailed as a hero. [snip]

[traderrob6]

They is absolutely nothing to refute what our people have been saying.

[Brilliant]

If the soldiers had been more experienced, and less stressed, they would have let the agent zip by at 60 miles an hour?

[passionfruit]

They blame our guys for stress and lack of experience, yet their guy ignored the checkpoint and all of the warnings from our troops.

Why can't they just do the adult thing and admit their guy screwed up.

[Wiseghy]

Isn't this the same exact thing the Navy said after it accidently shot down that Iranian airliner in the 80's?

Guess what; war, fatigue and "inexperience" all kinda go together in a combat zone. That lying, showboating reporter can thank the stars that everyone in the car wasn't completely blown away as they raced up an American check point.

[traderrob6]

Berlusconi is walking on eggshells because he's caught between what he knows to be right and and the majority socialist America hating Italian population. more here

[Cicero]

I'll buy it. The cause was stress and inexperience on Calipari's part.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Everybody who would breeze through an armed military or police roadblock whether they are stressed and inexperienced or not, raise your hands.

[ValenB4]

LOL. The Italians most certainly do not hate America. They disagree with the war, but so do the populations of practically every other country in the world.

[traderrob6]

Read Sgrena's paper (Il Manifesto) for a week or so and see if you maintain that opinion.

[ValenB4]

That's not representative of the people. Do you judge all nations by their left wing newspapers? That would be like a foreigner judging Americans because of the New York Times. You're not being realistic.

[MinuteGal]

How did the Italian investigators conclude that our troops were "stressed", "inexperienced" and "fatigued"?

Did they apply the thumbscrews to our guys to find out?

Talk about manufacturing "conclusions".

Leni

[traderrob6]

Left wing relative to our perceptions, there it's considered mainstream. And yes I do believe (in addition to the war) that a significant percentage of the Italian populace despise Americas policies, our strength and much of what we stand for.

[traderrob6]

Initial poll results 4/28/05

"Most of the time, the number of Italians with strong or mostly favorable views of the United States is just over 50%, even though it can be much lower in the case of specific issues," said Maria Rossi, co-director of the firm. "But so far, we are seeing response rates in the low-to mid-40s

That means that 55-60% of Italians have an "unfavorable" opinion of the US.

[ValenB4]

That's only temporary and because of our policies. Any American who goes over to Italy, or anywhere in Europe, even in France, and who doesn't act like an idiot, will be treated very well.

[FreedomNeocon]

Bullshit... sadly the Italians are becoming Euro-weenies like the rest of them.

To be liked by others, they are all to eager to join in the "playa' hatin'" on the US... just like everyone else.

The whole lot of EuroSocialist/ExCommies historical back-seat drivers and monday morning QBs can go to hell.

[FreedomNeocon]

"Our Policies"... yes the new amorphous catch-all... MUST be the reason the Itialian public is displaying political penis envy. /rolleyes

[sheltonmac]

Left wing relative to our perceptions, there it's considered mainstream.

And what do most "conservatives" here say about our mainstream media? Didn't the sainted Ms. Coulter even write a book about it?

And yes I do believe (in addition to the war) that a significant percentage of the Italian populace despise Americas policies, our strength and much of what we stand for.

And what exactly do we stand for? Liberty? Our forefathers fought a war over taxation that was far less oppressive than what we have now.

Is it justice? We imprison more people than any other nation in the world, mostly because of our desire to lock up non-violent offenders like the pot-smokers and the Martha Stewarts of the world.

Is it our devotion to human rights? Ever heard of abortion? We kill more people every year--over 1.5 million--than any nation we've ever fought against.

Seems to me more Americans should learn to despise America's policies. Unless, of course, there really isn't anything wrong with our country.

---

[daybreakcoming]

And just what about the Iraq war do they disagree with? Did they support Saddam's policies? If not, then I think we can write their opposition off as passionate penis envy. Of course Italians in general hate the US but they do like our tourist dollars.

[a freedom-loving italian]

That means that 55-60% of Italians have an "unfavorable" opinion of the US.

Hey, in the november election 48% of US citizens cast a vote for the "anything-but-bush" party so it seems like even lots of Yanks... have an "unfavorable" opinion of the US.!!!

But hey, don't misunderstand me, as a proud Italian citizen I strongly support Bush and his policy. The problem is that here in Europe Bush has a very bad image, most of the MSM are against him, and anti-americanism in very rewarding in political terms so there are some left-wing parties which constantly spread anti-american propaganda.

But please don't blame Italy for that: we have a truly pro-American head of gov't which own some TV channels so that MSM here are definitely not as anti-american as in the rest of Europe

Cheers