Posted on 03/08/2005 10:13:31 AM PST by Crackingham
Gianfranco Fini, the Italian Foreign Minister, increased a diplomatic row with the United States today by demanding that Washington identify and punish those responsible for the shooting of Romes top intelligence agent in Iraq. Signor Fini dismissed the American version that a lack of communication was responsible for the death of Nicola Calipari, who died in a hail of gunfire from US troops as he escorted a freed Italian hostage to Baghdad airport on Friday. Signor Calipari had made "all the necessary contacts" with US authorities in Baghdad, the minister said.
In his account to parliament of the shooting, which has sparked a diplomatic row with the US, Signor Fini said: "The reconstruction of the event does not coincide fully with what the American authorities have told us."
He said that the car carrying Signor Calipari and the freed hostage, Guiliana Sgrena, to freedom was not speeding and was not ordered to stop by US troops, as American officials have indicated. He also dismissed as "groundless" a suggestion from Signora Sgrena, the hostage in question, that American forces had ambushed the car because they disagreed with Italy's policy of paying the ransom demands of Iraqi kidnappers.
Italy reportedly paid more than $6 million (£3.1 million) for Signora Sgrena's release, which was negotiated by Signor Calipari himself.
"The car was travelling at a velocity that couldn't have been more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) per hour," Signor Fini said.
Rejecting the ambush claim, Signor Fini said: "It was an accident. This does not prevent - in fact it makes it a duty - for the Government to demand that light be shed on the murky issues, that responsibilities be pinpointed, and, where found, that the culprits be punished.
"We ask for truth and justice."
The minister took pains to point out, however, that Italy has an "old and empathetic friendship" with the United States, adding: "We hope that that within the next few hours this affirmed wish for loyal co-operation will yield its first major concrete result.
"We hope that this is not an opportunity to whip up political campaigns and to sow anti-American sentiment in public opinion, which certainly have no reason to exist."
We ought to tell them, "Sorry for his death, but thats what happens when you pay TERRORISTS."
I'm getting sick of this crap. If we had wanted to target them, they would be DEAD!. We wouldn't have taken the other guard and that red reporter to medical attention.
Do they really want to go there since they were in Iraq without our knowledge or consultation.
Yes, the US really gives a sh!t about some no-name Italian journalist, enough to want to kill her and risk enourmously bad PR. Silly Italian nutballs.
A dedicated commie who simply lies about this stuff follows in the footsteps of her god Stalin.
It is a shame that the agent died. Too bad the commie didn't.
BTW, notice the use of the word "slain", implying intent. No media bias here.
When military or police authorities are ordering you to stop your car at a checkpoint, 25 miles per hour is still 25 miles per hour too fast. The order to stop means to come to a complete stop.
What the heck is to "negotiate" when you hand the scumbags $6mil?????
Who in their right minds would pay 3 million for a Kommie media person?
I'm mostly ticked that money might be used to buy arms that ends up killing Americans. Italy you should NOT have paid.
My sympathy goes to the person killed, not the reporter.
Tragic sequence of events brought on by the Italians paying off terrorists holding communist trash.
The only person who should be held acountable for all of this is the skag reporter who caused it all.
"Italy steps up row with US over slain secret agent"
Should read: "Italy, along with U.S. MSM and other Communist front groups, steps up row with US over slain secret agent."
Lets shed a light on the fact Mr.Fini you paid 6 million US dollars to terrorists.
Who in your government Ok'ed this ransom......by chance would it be you Mr. Fini?
I get the impression that the dagos f'ed this one up themselves and they know it.
I wonder why they didn't tell us that they were coming through.
I suggest that we start with this dumbass then:
Who in the Italian government authorized a multi-million-dollar payoff to terrorists? That person plus the alleged hostage are the people responsible. Death by hanging okay with Minister Fini?
I agree. Then there is the other understated
argument...
Italy didn't plan safe escape for hostage
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050308-121240-1847r.htm
Exactly who do good Communists pray to?
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