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| Italian Journalist wounded in Iraq |
curious98 |
03/10/05 |
Any comments on this strange event?
By PATRICK QUINN
Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The U.S. military decided Tuesday to conduct an accelerated inquiry to learn why American troops opened fire, killing an Italian intelligence agent and wounding an Italian journalist he helped rescue from insurgents in Iraq - an attack that has strained relations with a key American ally.
The decision to fast-track the investigation came as the military also opened an inquiry into the shooting death of a Bulgarian soldier in what appeared to be another friendly fire incident on the same day.
Both probes were an indication of the pressure being brought on the Bush administration by the few American allies in Europe that have steadfastly supported his policies in Iraq.
Italy and its prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, sent 3,000 troops to Iraq, while Bulgaria has 460. Both countries have said they will not withdraw their troops, but domestic pressure to bring them home has been growing - especially in Bulgaria where it has become an election issue.
Also Tuesday, American troops fought insurgents Tuesday in Ramadi, a city 70 miles west of Baghdad. At least two Iraqis were killed in the clashes, and at least six other Iraqis died in other violence around the country.
Interim National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie said ousted dictator Saddam Hussein could stand trial by year's end. "I will be surprised if I do not see Saddam in the box before the end of the year," he said. "I am very much hopeful that Saddam will be in the box around September and October, before the general referendum" on a constitution.
The constitution is to be drafted by the National Assembly, which convenes March 16. Negotiations to form Iraq's first democratically elected government focused Tuesday on the makeup of the Cabinet, after Kurds said they were close to a deal with the Shiite clergy-backed United Iraqi Alliance.
The shooting Friday that killed intelligence officer Nicola Calipari and wounded Giuliana Sgrena, a 56-year-old journalist for the left-wing Il Manifesto newspaper, angered Italians and rekindled questions about the country's involvement in Iraq.
Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita eventually interrupted the intense questioning of Casey on the shooting incident.
In Bulgaria, the death of Pvt. Gardi Gardev made the country's presence in Iraq an issue ahead of general elections in June. Opinion polls show a growing majority of Bulgarians oppose the deployment. The opposition party has promised a withdrawal if it wins the election.
In Rome, Berlusconi's office said the premier had "expressed the satisfaction of the Italian government" at the U.S. military investigation.
Berlusconi called President Bush after the shooting and demanded a full investigation into the attack, which took place after nightfall as the car carrying Sgrena, Calipari and two other agents approached Baghdad airport. Another agent also was wounded.
Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini told parliament Tuesday that U.S. troops killed Calipari by accident, but disputed Washington's version of events.
Fini said the car carrying Calipari and Sgrena was not speeding and U.S. troops did not order it to stop, contrary to what U.S. officials say. But Fini dismissed allegations made by Sgrena that the shooting was an ambush.
"It was an accident," Fini said. "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."
The U.S.-led coalition said a follow-up investigation would be led by U.S. Brig. Gen. Peter Vangjel and that it would to take three to four weeks. Italian officials were invited to participate.
"The follow-on investigation to the multinational division-Baghdad commander's initial inquiry into the incident is expected to take approximately three to four weeks to complete," a military statement said.
Vangjel is the 18th Airborne Corps Artillery Commander and the investigation was ordered by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. George Casey. Vangjel, commander of all Army artillery in Iraq, arrived in the country in January.
In Washington, Casey said he had no indication Italian officials gave advance notice of the car's route. "I personally do not have any indication of that, even on a preliminary basis," Casey said.
The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, which controls Baghdad, said the vehicle was "traveling at high speeds" and "refused to stop at a checkpoint."
An American patrol "attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car," it said. "When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine block which stopped the vehicle, killing one and wounding two others."
However, Fini said the car was "traveling at a speed that couldn't have been more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour." A light, he said, was flashed at the car after a curve and gunfire started immediately afterward. It lasted 15 to 20 seconds, he said.
The investigation into the shooting of the Bulgarian soldier, killed near the central city of Diwaniya, will focus on reports he also was shot by U.S. troops.
"The multinational forces-Iraq values greatly our partnership with Bulgaria in helping the Iraqis achieve democracy. We are committed to working with our Bulgarian partners to determine the cause of" the soldier's death.
"It's another unfortunate incident," Casey said, adding "we'll get to the bottom of it."
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The considerable amount of contradictory news from both sides with regard to this case, makes it rather strange. Any idea of what might have actually happened to provoke the incident?
Curious98
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Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 03/10/05 4:48 am:
which one the Bulgarian or the Italian or both ? I posted about the Italian Reporter yesterday Clarification/Follow-up by curious98 on 03/10/05 10:43 pm:
For Jocase,
According to the Italian journalist and the Italian Consul in Baghdad, the US authorities in Baghdad had been previously informed of the liberation of that girl and that they would be proceeding immediately for the airport. The US Authorities were also informed of the make of the car and of the approximate time of arrivl at the last checkpoint.
So why did the soldiers posted there shoot more than 500 shots at the car?
That is the question nobody is answering so far, at least satisfactorily
Curious98 Clarification/Follow-up by curious98 on 03/10/05 10:49 pm:
No conflict at all. Eeverybody in Iraq, except the US authorities, agree on the fact that the US version is not the correct one.
PArticularly, bearing in mind that, apparently, they knew the car was arriving and who was inside...
Perhaps, this is the actual explanation. That they knew who was inside...
Curious98 Clarification/Follow-up by curious98 on 03/10/05 10:52 pm:
In fact, for both, because the Bulgarian one is even more misterious.
Curious98
Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 03/11/05 2:36 am:
lets be real here . if 300-400-500 rounds were fired (the number keeps increasing )from an armoured vehicle then there would be no survivors [or for that matter no car] left. Clarification/Follow-up by curious98 on 03/11/05 5:00 am:
for Tomder55
Dear Tomden 55,
As a matter of principle, I believe only less than 25% of what I read in the newspapers. Not even the ads are true… As for radio and TV, when it comes to politics the amount of manipulation is absolutely fantastic. I’m of course, speaking of Spain but, unfortunately, the same happens in the rest of Europe and the USA is no exception either.
Still, what has happened to Ms. Sgrena seems to be rather true, bearing in mind the number of people involved.
Your theory re. the kidnapping is a little risky. We have all had the chance to see on TV this journalist, as well as the French one (still retained, b.t.w.), begging their authorities to help them. This could be faked, of course, but to what purpose? Would you imply that all kidnappings happened in Iraq so far, that had not ended with a murder, had been fakes too?
My theory is simpler! In this case, as in the previous one, Mr. Berlusconi agreed to pay the ransom requested and that was that.
According to Italian press, US authorities were advised of the make, number of passengers, and arrival of Ms. Sgrena’s car.
Where have you read that this is not so?
On the other hand, I think your theory about slander is hardly sustainable! Mr. Bush himself has presented his apologies over the ‘phone to Mr. Berlusconi.
I very much doubt, from what I have heard about Mr. Bush, that he would ever apologize to anyone about anything unless he is certain that he or his Administration had made a mistake.
Why should he apologize to the Italians if he was not certain that Ms. Sgrena was shot by the soldiers at the airport checkpoint for reasons so far unknown to us, but probably not to him?
Unless you wish to tell me that in Baghdad soldiers go around indiscriminately shooting people who look suspicious or all cars that approach the airport…
Slandering laws are strict all over the Western World, in the US too. Sgrena’s accusations are simply that she was shot at a checkpoint and one of her accompanying police killed, and the car where they were, practically machine-gunned.
There is nothing to prove there. As I say, your own President has acknowledged it to be a most regrettably incident, and the car has been widely photographed and displayed on TV.
What else is there to prove?
You claim “Already, the Italian government has acknowledged that there was no tank involved, that the car had not gone through any previous checkpoints, that the Italians didn’t coordinate the extraction with the US . Driving recklessly was a primary cause of this tragedy .The Italians have acknowledged that the car was traveling near 100mph”
Could you please point out the media where
you have seen all that information?
I have read in the Net the following Italian newspapers of all signs and tendencies:
La Repubblica (Bernardo Valli’s editorial); La Stampa.
(Lucia Annunciaza’s editorial); Il Giornale (Salvatore Scarpino’s editorial); IL MESSAGGERO - Carlo Fusi’s editorial);
IL TEMPO - Franco Bechis’s editorial); AVVENIRE - Andrea Lavazza’s editorial): L’UNITÀ - Antonio Padellaro’s editorial) IL FOGLIO: IL RIFORMISTA - Mario Ricciardi’s editorial); LIBERO and IL SOLE 24 ORE. Nowhere, is there any mention to what you say.
A tank was not mentioned, but an armored car, which has been shown on TV. (It seems only natural that on sensible checkpoints like the one close to the airport, they have armored cars).
As for the speed, no car can go at 100 mph in that place. I do not know whether you know the area. I do, and have driven through it quite often, when I used to visit Baghdad years ago. There is a close curve, and the checkpoint is located precisely, and intelligently, at the exit of the curve, for all cars must reduce their speed to take to curve or they risk to turn over.
From what Ms. and the other survivors say, they were driving at 40 kph. They also claim the US authorities had been alerted. This may not be so, though… But, all the same, they could have stopped the car to see who was inside…
For your information, I’m copying the 3/11/05 article appeared on the Corriere de la Sera, on this subject. You can have some friend translate it for you.
The article refers to an interview granted by Ms. Sgrena to journalist Marco Imarisio:
“Q: Una versione del Pentagono afferma che superavate le 100 miglia, 160 all’ora.
«A: Assurdo. Poco dopo quella frase, l’autista frena, perché c’è una curva a gomito sulla destra. Decelera notevolmente, e non stavamo certo correndo. Mentre sta finendo le curva, gli spari. Da destra e da dietro. Raffiche e colpi singoli. Non è vero che hanno sparato al motore, da davanti».
Gli americani affermano di aver sparato in aria dopo avervi puntato un fascio di luce.
«No. I vetri della macchina esplodono all’unisono. Sono sicura anche di questo, non c’è stata nessuna scarica in aria. Ho sentito gli spari e i finestrini sono andati in mille pezzi. Nessun fascio di luce, nessuna piccola luce. Era buio, e io mi stavo guardando intorno».
A quel punto cosa succede?
«"Ci stanno attaccando, ci stanno attaccando" dice l’autista che sta armeggiando con il cellulare. E intanto ferma l’auto. Calipari non lo sento più. Ho come la sensazione che si metta addosso a me. Sono certa che mi ha salvato la vita. Gli parlo. Sento solo un rantolo. Ho capito che stava morendo».
Cosa vede dall’auto?
«Un blindato fermo, che spunta fuori dalla strada, sulla destra. E da lì, dall’alto che solo a quel momento veniamo investiti da un fascio di luce. Un soldato apre la porta dal lato destro. Quando ci vede, ho la netta sensazione che rimanga male. Impreca. Mi sembra che abbia detto "oh, shit". Anche quando arrivano gli altri, 7-8 da dietro il blindato, ho la sensazione di un loro scoramento».
Lei ha parlato di «pioggia di fuoco» e proiettili raccolti a manciate». Sembra che non sia così.
«Io i proiettili li ho visti. Non so se fossero 3-400, ma l’abitacolo era pieno di proiettili. E ricordo di aver pensato come facevo ad essere ancora viva, con tutti quei proiettili intorno a me».
E l’autista?
«Da terra, lo sento che sta parlando al telefono. Sento che urla: "Nicola e morto, lei è lontana da me ma vedo che ha gli occhi aperti"». In ospedale sanno già chi è lei? «Mi hanno chiesto subito le generalità, ma non ho notato reazioni particolari. Solo molto dopo, mi si è avvicinato un americano, dietro alla barella su cui sono stesa, e mi ha chiesto "Tu sei la giornalista italiana che è stata sequestrata, vero?"».
C’è il mistero del collier che le hanno regalato i sequestratori. Dove è finito?
«L’avevo indosso. Me l’ha tolto una infermiera, dicendomi che poi me l’avrebbe ridata. Il mattino dopo, ho chiesto se me la cercavano. Mi dicono che l’hanno trovata, invece non c’è. Poi siamo partiti».
Marco Imarisio
11 marzo 2005”
On the other hand, the armored car did not participate in the shooting, but just the soldiers with their machine guns. That accounts for the number of shots.
SO no matter what you and I may believe, this incident is rather obscure.
Furthermore, the news is spreading now, that the US authorities are apparently kindly inviting foreign press correspondents to abandon the country to avoid the repetition of such incidents…?? Only US correspondents should be staying.
If this is true at all, and I doubt it, what would that mean? Foreign witnesses are unwelcome?
Best regards
Curious98
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