Posted on 03/06/2005 7:54:51 AM PST by rlmorel
I have been thinking about this incident, and while I will never second guess a man in combat, I just wanted to think (4/5ths seriously) about the possible chain of events
These are the possibilities as I see them:
1.) Ransom paid, US not informed of this activity, car drives off to airport at high speed, reporter is too stupid to say "we better slow down" and dead agent too inexperienced in the environment to know they better slow down. Checkpoint encountered, expected result ensues with American troops who know that hesitation can mean explosive death.
2.) Ransom paid, US not informed of this activity, car drives off to airport at normal speed, reporter is too stupid to say "we better be careful, these roadblocks can be dangerous" and dead agent too inexperienced in the environment to know they better doesn't stop at the safe distance, instead, says "Why are those Humvees flashing their lights, why are those guys waving their arms, we will stop when we reach them. Car does not stop but proceeds at normal speed, tracer rounds going over their car ignored with occupants saying "what is that?"... expected result ensues with American troops who know that hesitation can mean explosive death.
3.) American military is told of hostage exchange and details of route, but the word doesn't get down to the grunts at the roadblock due to red tape, short timeline, standard snafu. Line grunts have no idea to expect this vehicle who is expecting to be expected. Predictable result from either scenario 1 or 2 occurs.
4.) American military not informed of exchange. Exchange occurs, terrorists tell driver safe route to take, accompnied by a statement like "None of our terrorists will attack cars on this road for the next half hour, we have informed them to hold fire. But you must be off the road before the half hour is up, after that ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN. DO NOT DELAY." So the Italians jump in their car, screw down the road at top speed, because...they are far enough away where it will be close. After they leave, the terrorist gets on his phone and calls the local police station informer line (which is in close contact with the US Military) to give them an anonymous tip that there is a suicide car bomb scheduled to attack in the next half hour near this roadblock. The information is relayed to the troops, who hunker down a bit more, check their watches and ammo while scanning the road bug-eyed for any approaching vehicle. Car comes speeding down the road at top speed, slows down when it sees roadblock, but keeps coming closer and closer. Troops fire unheeded warning shots, then let loose with everything they have.
5.) American upper military and administration is informed of events, but decide to let vehicle approach unwarned (or may even send out reports to troops warning them that a carbomb attack is imminent) so that annoying communist reporter may be possibly taken out by trigger-happy troops, setting up diplomatic firestorm which will cause troops to be removed from Iraq. Military people are happy because they get to go home, administration is happy because shrill harpy communist America-hating journalist is killed, europeans and terrorists are happy because the US is out.
Of all of these, which scenario is likely? I think 1, 2 and 3 are very possible. Is number 4 likely? Is it beyond these "men of honor" terrorists who slowly saw innocent peoples heads off, to take the money then use their marks as tools? Is it?
Number 5 was included for the tin-foil hat theorist DU Black Helecopter types who enjoy watching Apocalypse Now, and think any upper echelon military officer would sacrifice his troops to eat roast beef on linen and china. Just had to throw that one in to cover all bases.
having been there....heres the deal..
YOU KNOW to slow down. The fact that they didnt shows that the guy driving was an idiot or negligent or both.
Glad to have you back!
:)
no problem...
glad to be back....
bump for later reading
In Iraq, never hire a driver who graduated from the Henri Paul School of Driving.
Or drivers suceptible to road rage...
"WHAT ARE THEY FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT ME FOR???"
It may not be "stupidity." She is a communist, a Eurinal communist, the better word might be "arrogant." I think it is much more likely that, whatever the extent of notice, she said, "We don't have to be concerned with any Anmericans; we are Eurinals and I am am aging communist - full speed ahead!" I think we have no idea of her disdain for Americans!
Okay, did I mention that I think number 4 or some kind of variation is at least as possible as any of the others? After all, didn't they set some poor Downs Syndrome kid up with an explosive vest on or around election day? That means they will do anything.
This Italian journalist is anti-American, and perhaps this was the case with others in the car, including the driver, and since she's already said they hadn't informed the Americans she'd been freed....(so how could they know she was in that car and plan to kill her? This is her latest explanation of why they were shot at and makes no sense), perhaps she or someone else in the car simply didn't want to stop. "Why should we stop for those son of a b...ch Americans? Step on it! Mow the b....stds down!" might have been the last orders she gave.
Also, the checkpoints had endured a couple of tragic incidents where innocent Iraqis had panicked and tried to drive straight through...and ended up dead. It makes sense that the army reviewed procedures and ordered troops not to aim specifically at people...unless they were being fired on first...but to aim at the engine block or some part of the car in order to stop it. As someone else suggested earlier on FR, shrapnel killed the negotiator.
If possible, though, maybe we need Quickie mart-type video cameras set up at every checkpoint. Maybe we already have them in place. Well, no matter. This woman would probably claim we changed the tape or altered it to make her look bad.
Hah, Eurinals...never heard that.
I sure am sorry to see such animosity across the Atlantic, but...we are past the point of compromise with people who would fly planes into buildings full of people. If anyone doesn't think it is the same crowd, with the same mindset, they are fooling themselves...
I think many Europeans still think you can talk to those people.
You know, if they are on top of that Humvee with a 50cal, firing at the engine block, yeah, that would create shrapnel, I'm sure. If you have ever seen how they can tear stuff up, it isn't too hard to believe.
I can also imagine "we're not going to stop for those Americans..."
There's no reasonable explanation for what this woman and her companions did except that she/they wanted to cause an incident, thought it wouldn't go as far as it did, and suffered the consequences. (Stupid is as stupid does.) Unfortunately, one person is dead, American soldiers are being smeared worldwide, and this excuse for a woman/journalist is now an Italian hero. Those who want to believe her cockamamie version will do so no matter what manner of proof the US produces to show her up as a liar. That nothing she says makes sense is neither here nor there. Hysteria is an Italian talent, and they're in full cry. The dems and Hill will be on tv 24/7, blaming Bush and crying crocodile tears over the loss of cooperation with the few allies we have in Iraq.
well shes a complete moron for sure. You can't get through the checkpoints around the airport anyway WITHOUT slowing down. They built it well trust me.
She's very lucky to be alive.
I wonder if this woman spares a thought of regret for the dead negotiator, that if they'd stopped, he'd still be alive. Somehow I bet she thinks he died for the common good. He's now a martyr in the communist fight against the US for worldwide domination. 'Common good', now where have we heard that phrase recently? Makes your skin crawl.
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/065/world/Italian_journalist_wounded_in_:.shtml
In her article, Sgrena wrote that her captors warned her as she was about to be released not to signal her presence to anyone, because ''the Americans might intervene.''
I'd love to see someone interview the driver, also, I'm very curious about the autopsy of Calipari ... which is supposed to be done in Italy today ...
Click over to the Jawa Report. There's a blogstorm starting there.
Fact one: Iraq is probably the most danagerous place on the face of the earth to be...for military, reporters, or just plain citizens.
Fact two: Italy paid the ransom...pure and simple. Every security expert in the world will tell its plain stupid but then turn around and help make this happen.
Fact three: We, the US, are averaging 3 deaths a day amongst our troops. They simply take no chances...shoot any idiot who is a threat and ask questions later.
Fact four & final: The political wind in Italy changes every single year. Nothing improves that...and life will go on.
In her article, Sgrena wrote that her captors warned her as she was about to be released not to signal her presence to anyone, because "the Americans might intervene."
Her arrogance is mindboggling. Frankly, if I were investigating this incident, her version of events would be redflagged all over the place.
I am sure it is. The problem is that the international MSM has it in for the United States and ESPECIALLY for our troops.
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