WAR: Italian Newspaper: Sgrena operation 'kept from US'

According to a report in the Italian paper La Repubblica, U.S. forces may never had been told that Italian secret agent Nicola Calipari was conducting operation in Iraq. The agent was killed while escorting journalist Giuliana Sgrena following her release. The article quotes an Italian General, who is supposed to be the liaison between US forces and Italian intelligence. The General indicated that even he did not know of the operation.



I love how people jump to conclusions. What is really disgusting is that Giuliana Sgrena is attempting to slant this based on her politics. We need to wait until the U.S. and the Italians complete thier investigation to hear the final results.


[edit on 11-3-2005 by Banshee]

Pretty sorry, actually. however, it's like that whenever the anti-Americans get together and begin bashing based on wishes and hopes and very little fact.

Originally posted by FredT
US forces might not have known that slain Italian secret agent Nicola Calipari was in Iraq to secure a hostage's freedom, Italian papers say.

Great find. Amazing how people can put a twist on things to make it look like the other guy did it, when in fact; the other guy never knew about it.

Big OOOOps on the Italian side if you ask me.

The full investigation is not going to satisfy anyone.

The people saying that she was targeted will continue to say so.

The people saying that it was an accident will also continue to say so.

It's just like elections or the moon landing, we stick our flag in the sand and look for supporting evidence to back us up while dismissing all contradictory evidence.

It's human nature.

Terapin, i wouldn't jump to conclusions here either.

Let's just wait for the official report, then disect it.

gee i couldve told you this without any general saying this.

Honestly if they were going to target this reporter, then why not go all out and do a CIA op, kill ger and blame Insurgents? Why try to do so in such a public manner?

The way i figure about the US is that theres hardly ever a consensus for this kind of event. There are always good people in the admin who wouldn't want a bar of it.

It isn't unfeasible to suggest that a small minority carried out the op, without anyone else knowing so using the CIA might have being problematic. (not suggesting that she was targeted or anything, just making a point)

[edit on 11-3-2005 by rapier28]

Why did Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi say they were notified?
He was on the phone with Calipari before he was killed so he should have known.

CNN: U.S. 'knew agent going to airport'

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says the intelligence agent shot dead by the U.S. military told them he would be escorting a newly released hostage to the airport -- contrary to U.S. claims.

Another Italian attache, who was at the Baghdad airport, also told U.S. military personnel the car carrying agent Nicola Calipari and journalist Giuliana Sgrena was on its way to the airport March 4 before the shooting occurred, Berlusconi told the Italian senate on Wednesday.

This unfolded very very quickly. Perhpas they were woried about operational security. The patrol was set up at the last minute to protect the US Ambassador so maybe they did not feel the need to let the US know as they felt they were out of normal patrol boundries?

But if this paper's account is true, and the Italian general incharge of Intel Liason with US troops in Iraq had no idea, then ??????

Maybe the PM was briefed and they forgot to let that guy know?

Despite the growing debate on whether the US knew (was informed) or didn't know (wasn't informed), the real question is: Were those US soldiers patroling the highway to Baghdad Airport really informed or in the know?

With each passing day, this incident grows increasingly under suspicion. The Italian press is even beginning to question Sgrena's story. There are growing 'holes' in her story with each passing interview she gives.

Example:
Her car where she claims that "300-400" rounds were put into it or "shots were fired at it" and fired on from an armored vehicle, as well? Word has it that she is now claiming that "tanks" were involved.
Images of Sgrena's Car
Route Irish Racing and Baghdad Roadblocks: The Sgrena Incident

Why did the Italian Intelligence officer not inform/tell the US why he was in Iraq?
US not fully informed about spy's reasons for being in Iraq: Italy

So now we have an Italian General, "who is the coalition forces' second-in-command," stating that the US was not informed, we have an Italian intelligence officer saying so (one in the same, maybe).

Then of course, there is always the commentary by my favorite lil' lady:
Michelle Malkin: True scandal in hostage tragedy was terrorist payoff

Another typical "the Americans are targeting journalist" story, IMHO.

Oppps: EDIT: Forgot to show what is posted upon entry onto the road/highway to Baghdad Airport, just as with alot of the checkpoint locations the US maintains and operates:






seekerof

[edit on 12-3-2005 by Seekerof]

let's accuse one side of spin while we cook up some spin for the eventuality that their 'spin' is shown to be fact.

perhaps santa clause intervened on behalf of christmas.

this italian woman has information that american 'intelligence' doesn't want made public. i wonder if we'll get to taste it?

She said that there might've being tanks or armoured vehicles (those with turrets) involved. I don't see that story as being a "change".

The Italians are saying that it WAS NOT a checkpoint, only a patrol, and that they passed numerous checkpoints on the way already.

If anyone changed his story, it was the Foreign Minister;

from Seekerof's third source
ROME - The Italian intelligence officer killed by US troops in a friendly fire incident last week had not told US authorities why he was in Iraq, Italy's Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said Wednesday.

Fini has previously dismissed Washington's view that a lack of communication was responsible for the death of Calipari...

-----

I mean, whats the point of even debating this issue, all of you have your own opinions and will never change no matter what. I just don't believe that a proper debate will develop on this issue.

rapier28,
Despite if this was a "patrol" or a checkpoint, her claims are falling apart, period. She specifically stated "300-400" rounds fired. As such, have you seen the pictures of the vehicle she was in? You see anything remotely resembling even 25% of those rounds hitting the vehicle?

Definately no need to debate it. She and the Italian press are doing a fine job doing it.




seekerof

That BBC report was misleading.
They knew Calipari was there on a mission, they just (supposedly) didn't know the mission was to release Sgrena. Even that contradicts other statement made by Italian agents.

Fox News
ROME — U.S. forces in Iraq were only partially informed about last week's Italian intelligence mission to release a hostage, which ended with a shooting on the road to Baghdad airport and the death of secret service agent Nicola Calipari (search), Italian newspapers said Friday.

While U.S. authorities were informed of the presence of Calipari and a colleague, they did not know that the mission was aimed at freeing journalist Giuliana Sgrena

Originally posted by Seekerof
With each passing day, this incident grows increasingly under suspicion. The Italian press is even beginning to question Sgrena's story. There are growing 'holes' in her story with each passing interview she gives.

Example:
Her car where she claims that "300-400" rounds were put into it or "shots were fired at it" and fired on from an armored vehicle, as well? Word has it that she is now claiming that "tanks" were involved.
Images of Sgrena's Car
Route Irish Racing and Baghdad Roadblocks: The Sgrena Incident

[edit on 12-3-2005 by Seekerof]

Thanks for the links Seek. Great find and all the proof anyone could ever want. She lied that is clear and better yet she got caught.

BTW I am possitive if a tank had shot at the car as one story claimed at least one of the cars would have had some huge holes in them.

No big holes = no tanks if you ask me.

p.s. Great Job as always Fred.

[edit on 3/12/2005 by shots]

you ever see one of those 'cops' shows where the cops and the criminals are shooting at each other a car-length away from each other? it's amazing how innacurate people can be in the heat of excitement.
any attempts to establish what happened are nearly PURE SPECULATION. there, you're all sitting around, patting each other on the back at having successfully demonised this italian victim of kidnapping.

read some of her 'lies' at this link.



[edit on 12-3-2005 by billybob]