No Agreement on Italian Agents Death

[IChing]

Apr 29, 12:24 PM EDT
Italy, U.S. Disagree on Agent's Death

ROME (AP) -- Italy and the United States said Friday the investigation into the killing of an Italian agent by U.S. forces in Iraq had ended but they failed to fully agree on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The two governments issued a joint statement into the March 4 death of intelligence agent Nicola Calipari, who was killed after he had secured the release of an Italian hostage. U.S. soldiers mistakenly fired on their vehicle as it approached a U.S. checkpoint near Baghdad's airport.

In the statement, the two countries said the investigation had been concluded but they couldn't reach any "shared final conclusions."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ITALY_US_IRAQ?SITE=MNMAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. What A Joke!

This world Sucks! The world governments are completely corrupt, and we are mere pawns.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Omigod. Now I've heard everything.

From the joint statement, this knife in the back:

In the statement, the two countries called Calipari an "extraordinary man" who gave his life for Italy and was "an esteemed friend of the United States."
(snip)

If he was such an "esteemed friend of the United States," what the hell happened to him? Where IS he? I'll bet he'd be so thrilled to hear this.

Why did they forget to mention the OTHER "esteemed friend" who says that's a damned lie, the journalist, Giuliana Sgrena?

[IChing]

3. Story is still breaking

Italy and the US said today they had failed to fully agree on the circumstances surrounding the death of an Italian intelligence agent killed by US soldiers in Iraq, saying they couldn’t reach any “shared final conclusions.”

I have concluded this was a hit that failed.

[daleo]

4. Diplomatic language at its finest:

"Out of a dutiful homage to Calipari and ... national dignity that a government must have, the Italian government could not have been asked to sign off on reconstruction of the facts that as far as we know does not correspond to what happened that night," Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini told reporters after the statement was released.

Fini said the final report would be released "within a few days," and he promised it will make clear "why the Italian government could not sign off a reconstruction of events that in our opinion does not capture 100 percent what happened."

[Frederik]

5. Wow

In diplomatese, that's tantamount to "the bastards are lying!"

[CHIMO]

6. U.S., Italy disagree over death of Italian agent

U.S., Italy disagree over death of Italian agent
Last Updated Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:04:53 EDT

ROME - After a month-long investigation, the U.S. and Italy said they cannot agree on whether American soldiers are to blame for the death of an Italian intelligence officer at a Baghdad checkpoint.

In a statement, the two countries, which participated in a joint investigation into the March 4 death of agent Nicola Calipari, said they could not come to any "shared final conclusions."

"The investigators did not arrive at shared final conclusions even though, after examining jointly the evidence, they did agree on facts, findings and recommendations on numerous issues," the statement said.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/04/29/italy-us050429.html

[keopeli]

7. In here somewhere is a kernel of truth

Why when faced with the same set of facts, could two allies in a war disagree? Is it purely politics? Perhaps

But, this is how the truth will come out. Italians will have out with their side of the story, and the US will have to respond. Britain may be forced into such a position before long. Then, the US government will stand alone.

At this point, it seems certain that the US can not engage in further warfare. To do so will be a lone crusade and will surely be met by opposition from a coalition of our former allies.

Will Italy withdraw support from Iraq (mostly political support)? Will we stand isolated from the rest of the world for a generation? Will our government have to answer to an international call for a war crimes tribunal? Will the leaders of our former democracy stand to defend themselves, or will they attempt to pass the buck to our military - once the most highly regarded in the world?

The winds of change are in the air. I pray God will forgive us.

[Moderator]

8. kick to combine

[paineinthearse]

9. Italy, U.S. disagree over death of Italian agent

http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/04/29/italy-us050429.html

Italy, U.S. disagree over death of Italian agent
Last Updated Fri, 29 Apr 2005 22:39:18 EDT
CBC News

ROME - After a month-long investigation, the U.S. and Italy said they cannot agree on whether American soldiers are to blame for the death of an Italian intelligence officer at a Baghdad checkpoint. In a statement, the two countries, which participated in a joint investigation into the March 4 death of agent Nicola Calipari, said they could not come to any "shared final conclusions."
Calipari was killed by gunfire coming from U.S. forces as they tried to stop a car carrying him, two other agents and a freed hostage, Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena. Calipari died as he shielded Sgrena from the gunfire.

Soldiers at the checkpoint have said that the car was speeding toward them and that the driver ignored warnings to stop. But the Italian officer driving the car and Sgrena have claimed that they saw a warning light at the same time gunfire broke out. The agent has also testified he was driving slowly. "The investigators did not arrive at shared final conclusions even though, after examining jointly the evidence, they did agree on facts, findings and recommendations on numerous issues," the statement said. The killing sparked outrage in Italy and put pressure on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw Italy's estimated 3,000 troops from Iraq.

'The Italian government could not have been asked to sign off on reconstruction of the facts that as far as we know does not correspond to what happened that night.' Italy's foreign minister, Gianfranco Fini, said there was no way the Italians could have approved of the American version of events. "The Italian government could not have been asked to sign off on reconstruction of the facts that as far as we know does not correspond to what happened that night," he told reporters. Fini said a final report will be released in a few days which will make it clear "why the Italian government could not sign off a reconstruction of events that in our opinion does not capture 100 per cent what happened."

Italy has launched its own criminal inquiry into Calipari's death. In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the two countries had agreed to disagree and that it was time to move beyond the dispute. "The mark of a strong relationship is to be able to work together to find the areas of agreement, to accept the areas of disagreement, to put them all in the proper perspective and then to move on," he said. He also said the Americans would release their own report based on the joint investigation soon.


Nicola Calipari, an Italian intelligence officer who helped negotiate the freedom of several hostages in Iraq, was killed on March 4. (AP File Photo)

[leQ]

10. does it get any more pathetic?

this whole chapter has been a real twister for truth. who can we count on to get the truth?

[LynnTheDem]

11. "it's time to move on"...so what that people are DEAD.

Oh well. Shit happens.

How come that shit always happens to those least deserving of it?

[damntexdem]

15. And why is it always ...

time to move on?

How about we linger here a while, instead? It might well prove educational.

[bobthedrummer]

17. He died protecting the person he had negotiated release from "terrorists"

and she just happens to have a lot of information about Fallujah.

He had a State funeral, she is a journalist for a communist newspaper and now Italy has had it with BFEE-remember how the Italians jeered and booed The War President as he scurried to and from his armored car in the streets of Rome during the Pope's funeral?

Yet Italians warmly greeted President Clinton, who was walking in the streets of Rome sightseeing, not rushing to an armored car at all.

This is the old Europe, Italy.

[Theduckno2]

12. They could not come to any "shared final conclusions".

This is deeply saddening. Plenty of capable witnesses to the events and yet no final agreement on what took place. I don't think the State Dept. did itself any favors by sweeping the matter under the rug, for most of the world will see that ugly bulge for quite a while. Maybe the Italian investigation will bring some light to the tragic events of Mar. 4th. Nicola Calipari deserved better than just being a disagreement between friends.:(

[xxqqqzme]

13. don't care what color lipstick

we put on this pig....there was an Italian aircraft waiting to take them home. In the most guarded, patrolled 'airport' in the world, wouldn't someone, w/ mega credentials, have OK'd that sort of action? or can just any aircraft pull up 2 the door and say 'need a lift maam?'

[damntexdem]

14. Disagree! Oh, yes, it's just a matter of opinion.

Because the U.S. will never agree to judge the case by any facts of the case. And the U.S. media will go right along with that.

[Frederik]

16. P2OG already operational

Proactive Preemptive Operations Group. According to a leaked draft, it will bring together CIA and military covert action, information warfare, cover and deception.

I guess killing journalists qualifies as "information warfare".