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(U.S.)Soldier Faces Murder Charge in Italy (Commie Reporter Kidnapping Case)
Military.com ^ | February 7, 2007

Posted on 02/15/2007 12:59:02 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

ROME - A judge Wednesday ordered a U.S. soldier to stand trial in absentia for the fatal shooting of an Italian intelligence agent at a checkpoint in Baghdad, the prosecutor said.

Spc. Mario Lozano is indicted for murder and attempted murder in the death of Nicola Calipari, who was shot on March 4, 2005, on his way to the Baghdad airport shortly after securing the release of an Italian journalist who had been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital, prosecutor Pietro Saviotti said.

Another agent, who was driving the car, and the journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, were wounded.

"This looks to me like the first step on a long road toward truth and justice, and I hope justice will come in the end," said a visibly emotional Rosa Calipari, the agent's widow.

Lozano was not at the hearing and his whereabouts are not known. Judge Sante Spinaci set his trial date for April 17.

According to prosecutors, the judge said in his ruling that Lozano can be tried for "political murder," because Calipari was a civil servant and his slaying damaged Italy's interests.

Italian law does not allow foreigners charged with killing Italians abroad to be tried in absentia unless the murder has political connotations, prosecutors have said in the past.

Sgrena's lawyer, Alessandro Gamberini, said the judge agreed to attach a civil lawsuit against the Defense Department.

Prosecutors so far have not sought the soldier's arrest. Lozano, a member of the New York-based 69th Infantry Regiment, has said through friends in the military that he had no idea the car was carrying the Italians.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said there are no plans to make Lozano available for the trial.

(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: calipari; communists; euroweenies; fallujah; giulianasgrena; iraq; italy; lozano; mariolozano; nicolacalipari; sgrena
This is the thanks we get for defending our so-called "allies" from Islamic terrorism!
1 posted on 02/15/2007 12:59:07 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It should come as no surprise that Italians have their share of surrender junky traitors, too. Theirs just aren't called the Democrat Party.

This is the equivalent of a Ramsey Clark charge.

2 posted on 02/15/2007 1:03:25 PM PST by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Sgrena had told veteran war reporter Harald Doornbos that she was in no danger from Iraqi insurgents saying that Doornbos did not “understand the situation. We are anti-imperialists, anti-capitalists, communists, the Iraqis only kidnap American sympathizers, the enemies of the Americans have nothing to fear.” ----- Giuliana Sgrena

She needs to run another roadblock.

3 posted on 02/15/2007 1:07:06 PM PST by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Italy went to the dark side in the last election, regretably.


4 posted on 02/15/2007 1:09:37 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Well, after all he missed the commie reporter and got the wrong man instead.


5 posted on 02/15/2007 1:09:46 PM PST by GSlob
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Lets try the whole carload for being in a war zone without authorization - since we're making up law as we go.
This places our troups in danger.
6 posted on 02/15/2007 1:10:54 PM PST by GrandEagle
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To: Cicero
The Italians don't get it but the Iraqis do, even in Falujah :

Sgrena left her hotel the morning of Feb. 4th to interview refugees from Fallujah, the resistance stronghold captured by U.S. Marines in November. The interviews didn't go well. "The refugees...would not listen to me," she said. "I had in front of me the accurate confirmation of the analysis of what the Iraqi society had become as a result of the war and they would throw their truth in my face." ------------ "ITALIAN MORAL STUPIDITY IN IRAQ ," Guest Author Jack Kelly , Friday, March 11, 2005 , Printed from To The Point - http://www.tothepointnews.com

7 posted on 02/15/2007 1:15:27 PM PST by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It is worse than it appears. Italy paid a ransom of $1 million (give or take a few lira) to get this communist "journalist" released. Out of shame or incompetence, the Italians did not tell the Americans about the release. So, there was nothing wrong with Americans at a checkpoint firing on an unknown, approaching, speeding vehicle.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "The Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival"

8 posted on 02/15/2007 1:15:50 PM PST by Congressman Billybob (Please get involved: www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Did you happen to notice the date on this already post story line?


9 posted on 02/15/2007 1:16:37 PM PST by em2vn
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thus guy should get an award for doing his job to the best of his ability! He stopped the threat to his fellow soldiers. There is no way they knew these people were out there.


10 posted on 02/15/2007 1:17:14 PM PST by SFC Chromey (We are at war with Islamofascists, now ACT LIKE IT!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Well, maybe it is time to try Sgrena in absentia for aiding and abetting terrorists.
11 posted on 02/15/2007 1:23:06 PM PST by Truth29
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To: piasa

My husband's relatives in Sicily adored Saddam Hussein. It was Booooooosch (as they call him in Italy) who was the villian.


12 posted on 02/15/2007 1:23:08 PM PST by miss marmelstein
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This is a bit ignorant. E4's don't commit "political murder" against anyone, much less against Italians who are on our side.


13 posted on 02/15/2007 1:25:40 PM PST by xzins
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To: xzins

It's not political murder, it's a political trial. A bit of anti-American venting.


14 posted on 02/15/2007 1:56:13 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Truth29

"Well, maybe it is time to try Sgrena in absentia for aiding and abetting terrorists."

And then send a team of special operators to cap her stupid commie ass.


15 posted on 02/15/2007 2:56:52 PM PST by Levante
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