The Ransom of the Red Reporter

The National Ledger ^ | March 9, 2005 | Michelle Malkin

[Vision Thing]

The scandal is that Italy -- our reputed ally in the global War on Terror -- negotiated with Sgrena's Islamist kidnappers and may have forked over a massive ransom to cutthroats for Sgrena's release.

Looks like Italy is 'going Italy' once again.

[Run Silent Run Deep]

Good (USA)

will triumph over evil (Italian, commie "journalist").

[nopardons]

bttt

[bitt]

malkin ping

[bitt]

'The consequences of capitulation are bloody obvious. When you allow your people to be used as terrorist collection plates, the thugs will keep coming back for more. Might as well hang a sign around the neck of every Italian citizen left in Iraq: Buon appetito'

snort!!

[blinachka]

Good for Michelle Malkin! I agree with her. What the hell is Italy thinking in paying a ransom to these terrorist murderers? This is a question that must be asked.

Italy has been great in helping in this war - but paying ransom to the very monsters that we're fighting doesn't seem to be the smartest way to beat them. So one Communist "journalist" is saved - surely there is a chance of the terrorists murdering thousands with a few million worth of arms/weapons they'll be able to purchase thanks to that ransom...

Paying it was a BIG mistake which will likely come back to bite Italy in the rear. There should be NO negotiating with terrorists. Period.

[CBart95]

Malkin-2008!

[PzLdr]

I disagree on one point. I think this was larceny by trick, not extortion. An inside job, as it were. Isn't it odd that THREE anti-Americans/ pro-Islamofascists get grabbed, and released after Guido ponies up? (And when did Romans turn into Italians?), just when the bad guys can use the cash. It also offers another reason they ran the roadblock. The lovely Signorina would have ZERO interest in being debriefed by US Intelligence (military or CIA), and she would have been stopped and held for that purpose.

[E=MC²]

IF the US Military had indeed deliberately targeted comrade sgrena, she would NOT be alive today.

[writer33]

Who's Michelle Malkin?

:)

[writer33]

Now go to bed. What are you still doing up? :)

[international american]

ROTF....

[tertiary01]

I say that if they are supporting terrorists then we give them the French treatment.

[Eagles6]

Where's Michelle's picture? You know the rules!

[scottywr]

that should do it

[Eagles6]

Thanks. I only asked cause of the rules. Yeah, yeah, that's it, the rules.

[Shery]

Go, Michele!

[lainde]

bttt

[alloysteel]

Look at the "ransom" as a cover for something else. It was a cash transfer, a way for the Iraqi "resistance" to get a quick transfusion of funds to continue the "freedom fight", and very much in the Italian Communist movement's efforts to cripple and thwart the ability and will of the Italian government to continue its pursuit of truth, justice and the Italian way in Iraq.

The Communist party in Italy pulled its usual threats of blackmail and sabotage if the ransom WASN'T paid, and put the pro-American leaders of that country over a barrel. It worked, didn't it? Even though the world-wide Communist movement does not have controlling interest in too many national governments right now, does not mean that they are entirely without influence.

This was a plant from the beginning. The Italian government was put in a bind where they would have been burned either way, because of the treachery of their domestic Communists.