Italian journalist Sgrena reveals details of shooting, 700m from Baghdad airport

repubblica ^ | March 05

[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

[mewzilla]

If the Italians are lying about any of this, they'll never be able to live it down. And I hope they didn't pay any ransome for this chick, because you can bet that'll come out, too.

[WL-law]

americans knew we were coming

Huh? I don't think the Americans that mattered -- the ones guarding the checkpoint -- knew they were coming.

[mewzilla]

I'm more curious about who was with that reporter in that car and why, and why they were unwilling to stop at that checkpoint. Inquiring minds want to know...

[Bahbah]

I am sniffing SET UP all over this thing. I look forward to every detail coming out. This woman is a communist. I have doubts about the abduction in the first place.

[ARCADIA]

americans knew we were coming -they were 700 meters away from the airport, which meant they passed already all the controls

This doesn't make sense. What do you mean the Americans knew 700m away from the check point? That means that you failed to coordinate the move before hand; and you expect the US representative on the other end of a telephone call to convey information to a field unit, in the time that it takes your car to cover 1/3 of a mile!

BTW: How would a checkpoint know that it is them in the first place?

[mewzilla]

I think there's a heck of a story here. What/who did they have in that car that they didn't want the Americans at the checkpoint to see or learn? What have the Italians been up to?

[longjack]

"Spiegel" (Germany) is saying there WAS a ransom.

Two Italian Sismi (SF) teams worked in coordination. One was negotiating in Iraq, one was in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait with the ransom money. The girl was near Ramadi, when the deal came through she was brought to a mosque in Bagdhad for the transfer.

I'll try to translate the major details and post it.

longjack

[marty60]

There is only ONE relevent fact in this whole story. THEY WERE SPEEDING TOWARDS AN AMERICAN CHECKPOINT.

she's going to try to get her 15 minutes of propagada time.

[KOZ.]

interesting....if there was a ransom, the guys in the car were just intel, they paid off the ransom, and the us troops questioned what is going on. if thats the case, maybe the italians didnt want anybody to know there was a ransom paid. maybe the italians arent allowed to pay ransom for hostages.

maybe they were trying to get people out and show that they got in and out without the us knowing.

hmm....

[Truth666]

I'm sure that the other italian security agents will not confirm her story

[DB]

Right... We knew they were coming so we shot them up...

That's the ticket...

It couldn't possibly be they ran the check point and got shot-up as a result...

[mewzilla]

THEY WERE SPEEDING TOWARDS AN AMERICAN CHECKPOINT.

Running a checkpoint. Who the heck does this wench think she is, Hilliary?

[an italian]

Guys we are not against you. They are only Communists...

[mewzilla]

The Italians are going to regret this. Big time.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[Allegra]

Huh? I don't think the Americans that mattered -- the ones guarding the checkpoint -- knew they were coming.

Americans are still guarding a lot of the checkpoints in the Baghdad Airport area.

Very carefully.

[AngryJawa]

There is only ONE relevent fact in this whole story. THEY WERE SPEEDING TOWARDS AN AMERICAN CHECKPOINT.

Exactly. Yelling, then warning shots, then shots at the engine block, then deadly force are the ROE for our forces in Iraq. This is shown clearly several times in the PBS Frontline special that was one a week or so ago.

I'm sure the driver of that car knew the rules.

[an italian]

and "la Repubblica" is the worse journal that we have in Italy... In fact it's a Communist one.

[mewzilla]

Worse than Il Manifesto?