Free Republic

Editorialists review the progress made in the fight against terrorism in Europe since last year's deadly attacks on Madrid. Their assessment of our progress? Depressing. A lack of trans-Atlantic cooperation would be one thing, but German states are even having trouble giving each other an investigative hand. AFP A rose lies on a rail in memory of the victims of the train bombings at El Pozo railway in Madrid. No single issue dominates Germany's editorial pages on Friday. A handful reflect on the anniversary of the March 11, 2004 terrorist attack in Madrid. Others look to the unfortunate killing of...

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...

You would think that the number of Americans buried in Europe and Africa killed by Italian Fascists would lead the average Italian to approach the accidental death of an Italian patriot by American forces with some caution. But the time has long since passed since we Americans expect tact, grace or thoughtfulness from Europeans, even those who are our nominal allies. We had thought to refrain from commenting on the Abu-Ghraib-du-jour that is the Guiliana Sgrena story. When we saw the item come across the wire our instincts told us that it would be the lead story in the European...

You'll remember that Giuliana Sgrena claimed her car was shot at "300 or 400 times", among other lies she told that I listed here. It was easy to dismiss that claim as a lie on the spot, but it's even easier now that La Republica has posted photos of the car, but the AP posted clearer images. And thanks to LGF, here they are: As you can see, there's virtually no damage to the car at all. Here's some low-quality photos of an armoured car hit 36 times: We can safely say that an ordinary car hit 300-400 times will...

(AGI) - Baghdad, Iraq, March 8 - The commander of the USA troops in Iraq, General George Casey, announced that a joint Italian-American inquest commission would be created to investigate the shooting during which Nicola Calipari was killed. The investigation will last 3-4 weeks and will be coordinated by General Peter Vangjel, the commander of the 18th air transport corp which has been in Iraq for some time working in anti-terrorism operations. This inquest is in addition to the initial investigation and will be conducted by the multi-national corp in Baghdad. A USA press release said: "The command is working...

I am tremendously ashamed of italian government that financed with 6,5 millions of Dollars the terrorists who will use those moneies in order to kill Your Boys. My shame is still greater because I voted for this government (and the absence of other political forces Moderated will force myself to vote it again). Apoligizes, Good Giant....

A report on the Memphis Commercial Appeal's website yesterday said Memphis police were investigating every angle of a reported burglary at the apartment of players on John Calipari's basketball team. Calipari discussed the original police report, filed by Wade Saturday night, listing $40,000 worth of mink coats among items missing. The report was amended Monday and the minks removed. Instead, $3,600 worth of furs were listed as taken, all belonging to a girlfriend of Dorsey.