Report clears U.S. in friendly fire incident

[kskiska]

Italian negotiator failed to coordinate rescue with U.S. military

(snip)

Now, NBC News has learned that a preliminary report from a joint U.S.-Italian investigation has cleared the American soldiers of any wrongdoing and provides new details into the shooting.

(snip)

The investigation found the car was about 130 yards from the checkpoint when the soldiers flashed their lights as a warning to stop. But the car kept coming and, at 90 yards, warning shots were fired. At 65 yards, when the car failed to stop, the soldiers used lethal force — a machine gun burst that killed Calipari and wounded Sgrena and the driver.

Senior U.S. military officials say it took only about four seconds from the first warning to the fatal shots, but insist the soldiers acted properly under the current rules of engagement.

The investigation failed, however, to resolve one critical dispute: The Americans claim the car was racing toward the checkpoint at about 50 miles per hour, the Italians say it was traveling at a much slower speed.

more…
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7491280/

[leesa]

1. Of course this contradicts the evidence, but what the hell..

Sgrena said it was not a checkpoint and there were no lights. Yet another whitewash. There is no way they could not have known who was in the car.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. Surprise surprise

the lying liars lie again.

[Red State Rebel]

3. Report clears U.S. in friendly fire incident [Italian Hostage/Checkpoint ]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7491280/

NBC News has learned that a preliminary report from a joint U.S.-Italian investigation has cleared the American soldiers of any wrongdoing and provides new details into the shooting.

Intelligence agent Calipari had just negotiated Sgrena's release from Iraqi kidnappers on March 4 when the two and a driver headed for the Baghdad airport in a compact rental car.

It was dark when the Italians turned onto a ramp leading to the airport road where the U.S. military had set up a temporary checkpoint.

[Selteri]

4. What a surprise - Not

I called it as did every American who hasn't been in a coma... Freeper induced or otherwise.

[ngGale]

5. The usual - it's not my fault - bunch of...

lying dogs.

[MisterP]

6. O.J. not murderer, O.J. says

[Frederik]

7. Lies, lies

why am I not surprised.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Gee what a surprise

Not.

They are going to stick to their story no matter what. What a waste of time doing an investigation.

[saigon68]

9. Move along Nothing to see

Move along Nothing to investigate.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Hear a few of Giuliana Sgrena's remarks to CBS 60 Minutes

here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?channel=60Wed

Someone's lying, and it's not this survivor.

[0007]

11. Amazing the report came out during Negroponte's confirmation

hearing. How could it be any different?

Where's the car?

[bklyncowgirl]

12. What a shock. Not. nt

[jukes]

13. LIARS

murderous liars!

[Roland99]

14. We should let Al Qaeda do the investigation

Probably would at least have *some* truth in it.

[daleo]

15. Let's assume they were traveling 50 mph

Then, breaking it down by seconds (the military's claim):

1 - flash lights.
2 - 1.6 seconds later warning shots.
3 - 1.0 seconds later, lethal machine gun burst.

That is just over 2 and one half seconds, not four.

They can't even get their math straight.

[Endangered Specie]

16. In unrelated breaking news: OJ and MJ declare themselves innnocent.

what a shock! :sarcasm:

[anarchy1999]

17. Where is the car?

Give it up.

Liars, one and all. Cover-up and then some.

I'll never believe this line. "friendly fire", my ass.

[reorg]

18. NYT: Italy, U.S. Clash Over Agent Shooting

Italy, U.S. Clash Over Agent Shooting
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

(...)

NBC News, however, has said a preliminary report from the U.S.-Italian commission has been completed and clears the Americans of any wrongdoing in the killing of Nicola Calipari at a temporary checkpoint on the road to Baghdad airport while he brought an Italian hostage to freedom.

(...)

The commission, ordered by Washington, includes two Italian members and is led by a U.S. brigadier general. It is expected to release its findings by mid-April.

Members of Italy's center-left opposition have demanded the government inform the country about the commission's work, while newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Stampa reported Thursday that a final conclusion by the commission is being delayed by the reluctance of the Italian members to accept all the aspects of the U.S. version of events.

According to the Italian papers, a point of contention is American authorities' refusal to allow Italian investigators to examine the car in which Calipari was traveling when he was shot.

(...)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Italy-Iraq.html?oref=login



See also:

NYP: GIS CLEARED IN ITALIAN'S DEATH

April 14, 2005 -- U.S. soldiers reportedly have been cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting of an Italian journalist and an intelligence agent last month in Baghdad.

U.S. military officials told NBC News that a joint American-Italian investigation found the soldiers acted properly in firing on a car bearing a just-freed hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena, and an intelligence officer, Nicola Calipari.

(...)


http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/23237.htm



U.S. bars Italians from examining victim’s car

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-740304.php


end of story?

from "Der Standard" (Austrian newspaper), 14. April 2005

Sgrena: "I don't trust the investigation, one knows that such investigations don't yield any results." ("Ich habe kein Vertrauen in die Untersuchung, man weiß, dass sie zu keinen Resultaten führen")

http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1980336


According to the Italian authorities, an examination of the car is essential to assess what went on. (Nach Ansicht der italienischen Behörden ist eine Untersuchung des Wagens für eine Einschätzung der Geschehnisse vom 4. März wesentlich.)

http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1992199