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 Rome’s 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."
Funny, On CNN and on Limbaugh's radio program today I've heard that the Foreign Minister has called the incident an accident.
Why did the Italians try to run that checkpoint? Inquiring minds want to know...
I just watched the Norwegian evening news. Apparently, the terrorists have released a tape, denying that they received any money, and instead claiming that their "sources" had revealed that CIA wanted to kill the woman.
Unbelievable.
Cheers.
I mean.......WTF was she doing in Iraq to begin with? Hoping to be the next communist president of Iraq? (rolls eyes) I don't feel sorry for her. Just sorry that some great guy lost his life for her globe trotting where she didn't belong.
That's $6 million, and one human life more than I would give.
Because they were James Bond wannabes.
The real question is WHY NOT?
SO9
FWIW, I don't think so. Maybe my tinfoil chapeau's too tight, but I think there's a reason other than stupidity involved :)
And she is not dead -- why?
Probably not. I think they called them hostage takers.
Cheers.
She is a long time Eurinal commie who would easily exchange the life of a government agent for a chance to give the US a black eye.
Just because she says the US troops shot Calipari doesn't mean that's fact. The US fire could have come in response to several shots from inside the car.
Josef Stalin. Ask Hillary.
These Italians have some nerve! They "ransom" this communist with SIX MILLION DOLLARS to terrorists, which will fund the slaughter of who knows how many innocent people? She loves the terrorists anyway, who knows if she was really kidnapped or just doing fundraising for a cause she loves?
Why aren't people more outraged that Italy gave terrorists 6 million dollars? If they want to avoid harming innocent people, then their action is the biggest crime of all.
I'm mostly ticked that money might be used to buy arms that ends up killing Americans.
Not just Americans and coalition troops, but Iraqis, too. How many hundreds of Iraqi police & military recruits (and bystanders) will die from explosives bought w/ Italian money?
Let me get this right. This person who was just released from a real stressful ordeal isn't first of all real anxious to get to a safe area so as to not be kidnapped again. Then while casually cruising through the dangerous streets of Iraq, she's paying attention to the speedometer to make sure the driver is not speeding. Was she afraid that they may get a ticket? I would think that if they were really trying to ensure their safety, they would be flagging down ANY people in uniform to help provide ensure safe passage. Stinkin communistas!
Proud to be Italian American!
OK, you got it. She was a communist and was anti-American, anti-freedom and pro-terrorist. Need we say more?
I hate to say it but now the Italians can screw themselves too.
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