Italian PM accused of editing report on agent's death

[cal04]

Reports have surfaced that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intervened to ensure that a report on the killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Baghdad by US troops would not damage relations with Washington. An Italian report released on Monday blamed the killing of Nicola Calipari, while he was escorting a freed Italian hostage, on the "inexperience" of US troops acting under stress and without proper rules of engagement.

The much-awaited report differed significantly from the US account issued on Saturday, which exonerated the American troops who opened fire on Mr Calipari near Baghdad airport on March 4. The Italian report said the US roadblock near the airport had not been properly signalled and that "the soldiers in the American patrol opened fire out of inexperience and because of the tension". Newspapers have revealed that Mr Berlusconi had personally demanded changes to the report so that it was not too critical of the Americans and would not sour relations with them. Rome daily Il Messaggero reported "The head of government asks for changes", while the opposition-supporting La Repubblica claimed "Berlusconi imposes prudence".

"The report must be technical, only technical," it quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying, without giving any source. "It can even be tough, but it must not in any event prejudice to the slightest degree political understanding with the United States."
Mr Berlusconi is one of Washington's most faithful allies and Rome has maintained about 3,000 troops in southern Iraq since June 2003. Il Messaggero quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying, "the report must in no case be the starting point of a diplomatic conflict with the United States".The paper said he "read, reread, corrected and tweaked" the report before handing it back to military intelligence.

That, according to the press, was why the report was published four hours later than originally announced. Italian public opinion has been infuriated by the killing of Mr Calipari, regarded as a national hero who did nothing wrong, as he shepherded journalist Giuliana Sgrena to Baghdad airport after she had been freed from a month in captivity. The two Italian representatives on a joint US-Italian inquiry into the shootings refused to sign off on the US account of the incident.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1359093.htm

[rodeodance]

1. Fear works wonders--from the lowly poor US citizen to a PM!!

..."It can even be tough, but it must not in any event prejudice to the slightest degree political understanding with the United States."...

[Junkdrawer]

2. As soon as I read the Italian report, I thought "Berlusconi"...

then I thought "and I bet most Italians will think the same"....

The Pope's got his work cut out for him trying to save this guy...

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. What else would you expect

From Italy's equivalent to Rupert Murdoch.

Must not make Feerless Leeder look bad. You have to hope this is the begnining of the end for Berlusconi.

[bemildred]

4. The Italian Poodle. nt

[IChing]

5. The duty logs were destroyed

We know that a hit squad was there,
Why were the duty logs of who were on duty destroyed?

"The Italian report, written by a diplomat and a general assigned to Italy's secret services and released on Monday, said no measures were taken by US officials to preserve the scene of the shooting. It said the car carrying Sgrena and the agents was removed before its position was marked, for example. The soldiers' vehicles also were moved.

It also noted that an Italian general was denied access to the shooting site immediately after the slaying, and that duty logs were destroyed after the soldiers' shifts.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1698749,00.html

[Moderator]

6. kick

[Frederik]

7. Italian PM accused of editing report on agent's death

Reports have surfaced that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intervened to ensure that a report on the killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Baghdad by US troops would not damage relations with Washington.

The paper said he "read, reread, corrected and tweaked" the report before handing it back to military intelligence.

That, according to the press, was why the report was published four hours later than originally announced.

"The report must be technical, only technical," it quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying, without giving any source.

"It can even be tough, but it must not in any event prejudice to the slightest degree political understanding with the United States."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1359093.htm

[thebigidea]

8. if only the Italians were as incompetent as the Pentagon at PDFery...

[Fridays Child]

9. Which, in this case, stands for

Pentagon Dumb Fuckery

[Matilda]

10. Don't think it did him much good.

Does anybody believe any of the official versions?