Posted on 03/07/2005 10:22:07 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
CNN reports: Ex-hostage disputes U.S. account of shooting.
An Italian journalist shot by U.S. forces in Iraq shortly after being freed from her captors disputes a U.S. account of the incident in which she was wounded and a security agent protecting her was killed.In an article published Sunday in her newspaper, Il Manifesto, Giuliana Sgrena wrote, "Our car was driving slowly," and “the Americans fired without motive." She described a “rain of fire and bullets” in the incident.
The U.S. military said Sgrena’s car rapidly approached a checkpoint Friday night, and those inside ignored repeated warnings to stop. Troops used arm signals and flashing white lights, fired warning shots in front of the car, and shot into the engine block when the driver did not stop, the military said in a statement. ...
Saturday, the left-leaning Il Manifesto accused U.S. forces of "assassinating" Calipari.
Sgrena's partner, Pierre Scolari, also blamed the shooting on the U.S. government, suggesting the incident was intentional.
"I hope the Italian government does something because either this was an ambush, as I think, or we are dealing with imbeciles or terrorized kids who shoot at anyone," he said, according to Reuters. [Emphasis added]
Dave Dilegge at Small Wars Journal (see "7 March 2005") has commentary and a compilation of articles illustrating how this incident is being exploited by that "anti-war" left to smear America. Little Green Footballs is also following the story closely.
UPDATE -- March 7: InstaPundit has more.
Thanks for that cartoon - that question is exactly what I asked FOX yesterday.
The next time a speeding car heads toward our soldiers - will they second guess the situation long enough (an extra second) that it will cost them their lives ..??
I have no trouble whatever believing the U. S. Military over some leftist journalist. None whatever. Case closed.
She murdured this guy who came to buy her way out and how did she thank him, she killed him and blamed it on the Americans. DEMAND PROOF before falling for her commie line!
bttt for later read of the links.
It's best to know the rules of engagement before entering a war zone.
Stupid journalists!
"Well, Duh!!!" check here:
In case she hasn't figured it out, Iraq is a kinda dangerous place. Ya gotta be careful, or someone might kidnap you or shoot at you...geeezzzz!
***I have no trouble whatever believing the U. S. Military over some leftist journalist. None whatever. Case closed.***
YES, YES, YES!
It's not "left-leaning," it's Communist.
bttt
Or her "captors" murdered him after he got there to rescue her and discovered that it was a set up all along between her and the terrorists.
I'll take my tinfoil hat off now.
Western minds are free to use their God given intuition, combined with lessons learned from past experience and good common sense.
What we have here is a blatant collaboration between Sgrena and her so-called "captors" to collect millions of lira for their cause - instigate an international incident to covere the murder of a pro-USA Italian intelligence operative.
What do you suppose happened to the GPS system he was carrying when he picked her up from the terrorists? It was replaced with a bullet to his head, before the car was fired on by the US military.
A bullet to the temple? Through a window? In the dark? That is one helluva traffic check point marksman.
What we have here is a blatant collaboration between Sgrena and her so-called "captors" to collect millions of lira for their cause - instigate an international incident to covere the murder of a pro-USA Italian intelligence operative<<<
I dont know about the murder of the Operative, but I suspect any liberal, socialists journalists who gets "kidnapped" of being in cahoots with the "captors".
I thought right away that the kidnapping was a lie.
There are fewer bullet holes in the vehicle!
"Our car was driving slowly,"
Yeah, right! (big sarc)
I suppose I shouldn't be, but I'm amazed at the more outlandhish her story gets, the more the media is going for it. I really expect her to start saying, "yeah, that's the ticket" after every time she changes it.
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