Posted on 03/05/2005 4:42:38 AM PST by Truth666
Lots of information pouring in:
13:04 Sgrena contradicts the US: the car wasn't speeding
13:11 americans knew we were coming -they were 700 meters away from the airport, which meant they passed already all the controls
13:19 shooting took place while italians had the italian government (Palazzo Chigi ) in the mobile phones
Smart money says 'lying'.
This whole thing is strange. Why wouldn't they slow down? It makes no sense, the officer had to know that it was an American checkpoint.
Sure, I've parachuted into Iraq with a bag full of money and the address of some highly sought after terrorists and after a nice chat with them I find myself speeding toward an armed US check point, with three or four spooks and a terror sympathiser in the back seat....perfect time to phone up the Italian embassy!
There are plenty of questions to be asked, but the Italian intelligence agents were not on a suicide mission even if their passenger was a Communist. This was not a staged event. I don't buy your conspiracy explanation. We need facts not speculation.
They must have stopped at other checkpoints along the way, which makes it curious as to why they didn't stop at the last one.
Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell and making him believe that he will enjoy the trip.
Well, we'll have to wait and see, won't we? Too much about this doesn't pass the smell test. If you believe the Italian journalist's version of the story, there might be a bargain bridge for sale near Brooklyn that might interest you.
That doesn't mean that the guards at the checkpoints knew that they were coming or that they knew what car they were coming in.
What do these morons think? Do they think that they can call the HQ and then just bust in through the checkpoints at will?
Expat travelers going back and forth to the ariport cannot even go through the checkpoints without stopping and showing ID and that is a routine operation. We know the guards, the guards know us.
Dum basses. The great thing about working in a combat zone is that, generally speaking, the dumb ones make themselves pretty obvious.
That talk doesn't help...
We have alot of friends in Europe and Asia. Hell we have 45% of the US that voted for sKerry.
I'd say cultivate friendship with like minded conservatives in Europe which are growing in number in these magical times (can't do that with broad sweeping gernalizations)
Somebody did Kabar. Somebody did indeed. (I would be looking at the driver and the drivers relationship to the reporter or the Italian Intelligence.
This crap about a big surprise is not passing the smell test. It is obvious from some media that I have seen of this check point, that it is busy, and it is located exactly just around the bend of a curve in the highway, about a klick from the airport.
This car would have likely gone around traffic to get through and stuck out like a sore thumb. Someone wanted a incident.
I am going to have to go with lying on this one.
He also can not dismiss the ransom that was paid. That money will be used to slaughter more Iraqis and blow up more American soldiers. For what? This commie?
I think the odds are pretty darn good. They knew very well that is what would happen so....
Yup, and also how she feels like her status as a journalist was what drew the fire.
Until I have the facts, I don't believe anyone's version. It is a tragedy. Accidents happen in war. Friendly fire is just as deadly as the enemy's. We need an investigation to sort out the details.
yeah,...they want to get this story into the popular consciousness quick,...for me,it has a FLASHING NEON SIGN
It's already happened. See Post #8 on this thread.
The only important thing is if the US soldiers followed the ROE. If yes nothing else matters.
That is something about which we all can agree.
It was not a tragedy. It was stupidity or deadly arrogance by the Italian agents.
Here's my hypothesis:
1) Italy was willing to pay 'Ransom' to get this person back.
2) They didn't want to advertise that they were going to do it. (It funds terrorist and insurgency, and is politically dammaging)
3) They didn't tell anyone what they were doing until the 'last second' (trying to be tricky and stay 'under the radar')
4) They got around the other checkpoints using the 'insurgents' as guides after payment.
5) At the last second (actually 700m from the 'last' checkpoint) they HAD to pass (to get into the airport) they made the call
6) The call was supposed to get word to the people at the checkpoint that someone 'special' was coming through and had clearance. They then assumed if the soldiers knew someone with their car was coming through with clearance, then they would not fire on the car (if only because of that possiblity).
7) They were wrong (at least about the timing, but who knows... the soliders might have had the orders but made the decision that likelyhood that it is 'safe' or not... all had to be stopped.
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