Article

2005-05-03 Europe

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Posted by Fred 2005-05-03 00:00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Italian investigators blamed U.S. military authorities for failing to signal there was a checkpoint ahead on the Baghdad road where American soldiers killed an Italian agent, concluding in a report that stress, inexperience and fatigue played a role in the shooting

yeah, those well-announced checkpoints catch so many insurgents

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-05-03 09:57|| 2005-05-03 09:57|| Front Page Top

#2 ''Turn right at flashing sign for checkpoint detour.''

And Sgrena was certainly stressed, inexperienced and fatigued.

Posted by Matt 2005-05-03 10:04|| 2005-05-03 10:04|| Front Page Top

#3 Maybe a few Italians commies would like to volunteer to stand holding a flashlight about 1 kilometer in front of checkpoints, just so the next ransom exchange will go smoothly.

Posted by ed 2005-05-03 10:08|| 2005-05-03 10:08|| Front Page Top

#4 Perhaps some blame on the driver using a cell phone driving at a good clip on a road he didn't know failing to stay alert to his surroundings? Perhaps some blame on the two passengers for not focussing on their surroundings during the dangerous drive back to the airport. Fair to say the driver could have used an extra pair of eyes on the road? It's not like it was a Sunday drive to grandmom's house. There were two highly trained officers in that car weren't there? It wasn't as if the soldiers dismounted a quarter mile away and set up an ambush from concealed positions. Plenty of iraqi's driving can figure it out without incident, even at night! Yes it was a tragedy but it needn't be made into a political football by the Italian govenment to placate those who probably wouldn't support that government in the first place.

Posted by Tkat 2005-05-03 10:17|| 2005-05-03 10:17|| Front Page Top

#5 Italian investigators blamed U.S. military authorities for failing to signal there was a checkpoint ahead on the Baghdad road where American soldiers killed an Italian agent,..

More like driver/passenger stupidity, quite frankly. But hey, go ahead and blame Americans - that is standard practice, isn't it?

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-05-03 10:30|| 2005-05-03 10:30|| Front Page Top

#6 A major step back for the Italians, but seriously annoying nonetheless.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-05-03 10:48|| 2005-05-03 10:48|| Front Page Top

#7 Title: ''Italy: Agent's Shooting Not Deliberate''

I would say it was plenty deliberate! When you charge a checkpoint at breakneck speed in Iraq, you get what you ask for.

Posted by BA">BA 2005-05-03 12:18|| 2005-05-03 12:18|| Front Page Top

#8 Agreed. The fewer accidental shootings, the better. All shots should be taken deliberately.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-05-03 12:36|| 2005-05-03 12:36|| Front Page Top

#9 ''It was a dark and stormy night'' begins Snoopy's great unfinished work of fiction. I see the Italians love fiction too.
''...the checkpoint had been the site of 13 attacks...'' Is this the same checkpoint the driver who claimed he knew the road said didn't exist?
Pesky satellite shows our people were lying,so now we'll say is not relevant what speed our people were traveling at.
3 seconds warning was not enough time to stop given the speed our car was going...oops,forget that bit.
Almost immediately after incident the Italian General in charge in Iraq sent message to Rome saying he didn't tell Americans there was a secret mission underway because HE didn't know there was one. Yet we find his second-in-command telling his laison there was one,just keep it secret. Did politics in Italian Army contribute to incident?
Okay,our journalist has lied about every detail,but that doesn't mean we'll believe you.
Bottom line,the Italian Government f*****up massively but will never admit it.

Posted by Stephen 2005-05-03 15:51|| 2005-05-03 15:51|| Front Page Top

#10 Oh! (dark sucker appears over head) that kinda satellite! Makes sense.... GPS.

Posted by Shipman 2005-05-03 16:33|| 2005-05-03 16:33|| Front Page Top

#11 Trapped, like a leo rat... can't exit except thru the Today button.

Posted by Shipman 2005-05-03 16:34|| 2005-05-03 16:34|| Front Page Top

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