Posted on 03/06/2005 9:05:06 AM PST by traumer
Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena has suggested US troops deliberately tried to kill her moments after she was released by her kidnappers in Baghdad.
Ms Sgrena, writing in her left-wing newspaper Il Manifesto, described how her car came "under a rain of fire".
At that moment, she said she recalled her captors' words that some Americans "don't want you to go back".
The US military, who said troops fired on the speeding car after it failed to stop, has opened a full investigation.
A top Italian secret service agent, Nicola Calipari, died in the incident as he shielded Ms Sgrena from the gunshots.
He had led the efforts to negotiate the release of the correspondent, held captive in Iraq for more than a month.
Everyone knows that the Americans do not like negotiations to free hostages, and because of this I don't see why I should exclude the possibility of me having been the target Giuliana Sgrena Ex-hostage
The body of Mr Calipari, who is being treated as a national hero, is lying in state in an imposing monument in the centre of Rome before a state funeral on Monday.
The incident in Baghdad threatens to have continuing political fallout in Rome, says our correspondent there David Willey.
Pressure will grow on Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a staunch ally of US President George W Bush, to reconsider the wisdom of keeping on Italian peacekeepers in Iraq, our correspondent says.
Already, the Italian foreign ministry has warned all Italian nationals to avoid travel to Iraq.
Sgrena's account
Details remain unclear about exactly what happened as the car carrying the Italian journalist, Calipari and two other agents made its journey towards Baghdad's airport late on Friday.
The US military says that the car was speeding as it approached a checkpoint and that soldiers used hand signals, flashed lights, and fired warning shots in an attempt to stop it, before opening fire.
DIFFERING ACCOUNTS US: Forces fired on a vehicle that was approaching at high speed Troops attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine block Sgrena: The driver had spoken twice to the embassy and to Italy that we were on our way to the airport We were less than a kilometre [from the airport]... when... I remember there was shooting The driver began screaming that we were Italian We weren't going particularly fast given that type of situation
In pictures: Joy and dismay Italian press reaction
In her account for Il Manifesto, Ms Sgrena said the kidnappers had released her willingly.
When she got in the car, Calipari took off her blindfold and was "an avalanche of friendly phrases, jokes".
"Nicola Calipari was seated at my side. The driver had spoken twice to the embassy and to Italy that we were on our way to the airport that I knew was saturated with American troops. We were less than a kilometre they told me... when... I remember there was shooting.
"The driver began screaming that we were Italian, 'We're Italian! We're Italian!'"
Ms Sgrena has said the car was not going particularly fast.
Upon her release, she said, "They [the kidnappers] said they were committed to releasing me, but that I had to be careful 'because there are Americans who don't want you to go back'."
In another interview with Sky Italia TV, she said it was possible the soldiers had targeted her because Washington opposed the policy of negotiating with kidnappers.
Calipari's coffin arrives in Rome
Calipari: 'Extraordinary hero'
"Everyone knows that the Americans do not like negotiations to free hostages, and because of this I don't see why I should exclude the possibility of me having been the target," she said.
She said she did not know if a ransom was paid for her release - a policy the US does not approve either.
Ms Sgrena was abducted on 4 February, and later appeared in a video begging for help and urging foreign troops to leave Iraq.
Much of the country was opposed to the US-led war in Iraq and the government's decision to send 3,000 Italian troops to Iraq.
-They [the kidnappers] said they were committed to releasing me, but that I had to be careful 'because there are Americans who don't want you to go back'."-
Yes, you ugly Communist, your kidnappers are so kind and helpful. I'd say she was led to speed towards our guys, but it sounds very much like she's the type to lead sheep, not the other way 'round.
I wouldn't be surprised if she arranged the whole kidnapping.
So screaming that they were Italians was supposed to be the equivalent of 'Open Sesame'?
Americans have to slow down and produce ID at those checkpoints unless escorted by military vehicles. If Americans do, why shouldn't Italians?
Does anyone know specifically which checkpoint this was? The story keeps saying that they were 700-1000 meters from the airport, however the last checkpoint (and closest to the actual airport) is not manned by US troops. So were they speeding in on the airport road or had they just come in off the 'race track' in BIAP?
"We weren't going particularly fast given that type of situation"
Let's see, if I had been held captive by terrorists for over a month, I had just been released and I was headed to the airport to get out of that God-forsaken country before anything else happened to me, how fast would that particular situation warrant my car going - as fast as that freaking car would go with the gas pedal pressed all the way to the freaking floor!
Maybe it's just that they are trained to recognize the enemy.
Conclusion: Then you must be feeling suicidal.
Do you have a link to this State Dept. release?
They are very good at what they do.
Exactly. I don't trust the commie myself.
That's my problem. It seems that somebody is deliberately avoiding asking that question. After all, who rescued her from the bloodthirsty American troops who were out to kill her?
bullchit
She went to a network (I forget which one---CBS?) and I'm sure she went voluntarily.
She thinks she's more important than she is. UGH!
"If we wanted her dead, then she, her car and everyone in it, would have blown to smithereens."
BINGO! How sad that Italians are falling for her crappola!
Yeah. Kinda redundant, huh?
read up on the number of attacks on the road connecting to the airport, which I understand was where this check point was placed.
Italian negotiators wounded and one killed have a sad outcome, but it is too early to place blame at our feet, IMHO.
Did they coordinate with the area authority on their operation?
Were they driving at high speed to an area regularly filled with check-points?
Why didn't they stop for warnings?
When questions such as these are answered, the sad occurance with our fine allies from Italy can be reviewed.
Exactly! I just thought that quote was a funny way for her to word that the car wasn't going fast.
I don't believe this woman had a clue how fast the car was going. I don't think she was aware of anything that was going on around her. She said she was sitting in the backseat listening to the guy, that was sitting next to her, tell her what had been happening in Italy since she had been abducted. It doesn't sound like she had her eyes on the road ahead.
I wonder if Pentagon will tell the truth....
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