Article

2005-03-08 Iraq-Jordan

Italy didn't plan safe escape for hostage

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Posted by Steve 2005-03-08 9:51:35 AM|| || Front Page|| [11125 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 this may prove very embarrassing for Italy. Why the secrets?

Posted by 2b 2005-03-08 10:54:47 AM|| 2005-03-08 10:54:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Because they have something to be ashamed of?

We make a good team today, 2b!

Posted by Jules 187 2005-03-08 10:56:32 AM|| 2005-03-08 10:56:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Interesting article here:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2326&e=13&u=/csm/ocheckpoint

about how the cultural differences have gotten people killed.

From the article:
"Under Saddam, idling was risky
This feeling is a holdover from the days of Saddam, when driving slowly past a government building or installation was considered suspicious behavior. Get caught idling past the wrong palaces or ministry, and you might never be seen again."

Posted by D 2005-03-08 10:57:52 AM|| 2005-03-08 10:57:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't know, D. That's a big stretch.

Posted by 2b 2005-03-08 11:06:30 AM|| 2005-03-08 11:06:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm not blaming our troops. No way but as the article says, there is usually two checkpoints. The first is Iraqi soldiers and they just wave the cars through at which time the drivers hit the gas.

Our guys did what they needed to do to protect themselves.

Couldn't the Italians have made a phone call to let us know they were coming?

Posted by D 2005-03-08 11:10:32 AM|| 2005-03-08 11:10:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Please stop with the excuses "cultural" etc.,

Iraq,nightime,curfew,meeting time,place,comm.,transportation,routes in & out,etc.

why not go directly go to the green zone and catch a Helo ride to airport?

Why would a proffesional intelligence agent plan his mission so poorly?

Posted by ? 2005-03-08 11:14:05 AM|| 2005-03-08 11:14:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 ...and futhermore, everyone knows that you can't drive directly into the "Saddam" airport. You have to go through at least two check points.

Posted by ? 2005-03-08 11:23:50 AM|| 2005-03-08 11:23:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Wonder if this'll bring Bertulesconi down?

Geez, 60 years after WWII and they still haven't had 1 complete administration.

And we're supposed to listen to them?

Posted by anonymous2u 2005-03-08 11:27:58 AM|| 2005-03-08 11:27:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 The Italians were paying a ransom for her. The were not supposed to do that. They kept their ops secret. They drove fast toward a checkpoint. The American military is now in charge. Saddam and his minions are out of power. This Italian secret services guy at least should have had the clue, being in the business he is in.

The Italian communist rag will whip this up as long as they can, then the story will die like a horse that has been whipped too long. Momentum for representative govt is building in the Middle East. People see the big show and are walking past the side show.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2005-03-08 11:30:41 AM|| 2005-03-08 11:30:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 "...intelligence agent Nicola Calipari who brokered the reporter's release..."

Poor bastard. Sent on a bag-man's errand.

Appeasing Euro-pussie result#1: Calipari died because the Italians sent a "negotiator" just to make it look like they didn't hand over cash to animals that will use it for ammunition, passports, and whatever else is needed to kill Americans and Iraqi infidels.

Appeasing Euro-pussie result#2: You only know the release time if it is agreed upon as part of ransome payment. But then you can't tell the US the schedule or it looks like a ransome was paid.

When will the Iraqis figure out that Appeasing Euro-pussies get them killed, too?

Posted by Hyper 2005-03-08 12:20:17 PM|| 2005-03-08 12:20:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the Italians were double crossed. A little whisper from an informant to be on the lookout for a particular vehicle on the airport highway on a particular night.

Posted by john 2005-03-08 3:42:16 PM|| 2005-03-08 3:42:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 BGO - if they wanted her dead - she'd be dead.

Posted by 2b 2005-03-08 4:28:35 PM|| 2005-03-08 4:28:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 You know, even the most jaded observer would have to admit that if the US wanted this bimbo dead. she and her coterie of agents would have been shredded with fire. Not one dead and the others wounded, but a gristley stew requiring DNA analysis for identification. We shoot better than that.

Posted by RWV 2005-03-08 6:00:50 PM|| 2005-03-08 6:00:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 This whole story is getting more MSM coverage than it deserves. Their aganda is clear.

The agent who planed this little fandango is dead. Maybe the Italians will learn something. One can hope.

If the Italians are going to be paying ranson perhaps we don't need their help anymore. That kind of help is bad news. It's really EU of them.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-03-08 9:33:05 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-03-08 9:33:05 PM|| Front Page Top

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