Journalist's Rescue Amidst The Killing of Italian Hero, Revisited
An old story with new questions, of a Journalist killed and another wounded in an escape from kidnapping, but by American National Guardsmen and with a report from the Military which whitewashes the event, with a story witnesses say are lies.
The following tired scenario has worn thin in the telling, too many times.
The Pentagon declined to talk with 60 Minutes Wednesday, and the Army issued the following statement the night of the shooting: "Vehicle traveling at high speed refused to stop at a check point." [soldiers] "attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots...when the driver didn't stop the soldiers shot into the engine block which stopped the vehicle."
In an interview with 60 minutes host Correspondent Scott Pelley with Italian Journalist Giuliana Sgrena, the facts from her vantage point came out Sunday evening.
Italian Journalist Giuliana Sgrena, when Correspondent Scott Pelley, asked about the above report, said, "I think that is a lie."
"Let's take this piece by piece," says Correspondent Scott Pelley "Vehicle was speeding."
Sgrena answers, "No."
Pelley, asks, "Attempted to warn the driver by hand signals."
Again Sgrena says," No,"
"Arm signals. Flashing white lights. Firing warning shots," Scott Pelley asks.
"Nothing at all," Sgrena answers.
Then Pelley, asks, "What you're saying in this interview is that none of those things happened?"
"Nothing. No, I'm sure." She answers.
Who am I speaking about? In February, Italian reporter Giuliana Sgrena was taken hostage in Iraq. Nearly a month later (28 days), she was rescued by the now famous Italian intelligence agent, Nicola Calipari.
Sgrena, Calipari, and their driver all thought they had escaped to safety, but out of nowhere and suddenly an American patrol began firing at their car. Calipari, the Italian national hero, was killed; Sgrena herself was wounded. Although last week President Bush visiting Rome expressed Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi his regret in person for the incident, it has placed a pall over the so-called "coalition."
Professor Bagnolo is a Renaissance man: Cultural Anthropologist, Architectural designer, painter, writer, novelist, theologian. As a child prodigy, abed with polio for almost two years, with an off the charts IQ, reading at the graduate level by 5th grade, offered an opportunity to skip three grades at age 8. Later He was a recipient of an Art Institute scholarship at age 11, a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Anthropology and in Painting and a merit scholarship in art, and was appointed a Graduate Research Assistant position in college. He holds a triple bachelor's degree in Painting and Drawing, Anthropology, Architectural Design Advertising. MA's in Cultural Anthro, Painting and more. After being tenured he taught; architecture, anthropology, Theology, advertising, painting and drawing, entrepreneuring and Creative Profit Making. He produced a star-studded Music festival, had a radio talk show in Chicago, and cable TV show. Now, retired from Teaching, he paints, writes, and pursues other ventures.
The above bio harvested from the comments of Deans, colleagues, students, clients and collector's.
Pete Do you think, in light of her being a communist journalist and writing against the war, and that the Italians gave notice to the US Military of the upcoming rescue, and given Calipari's heroics on past missions, that they were singled out for a HIT by politico's?
by
Agatha Payne (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 43 comments)
on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 11:32:31 AM
I don't think that The Guardsmen would do such a thing, but it did cross my mind that maybe higherups ordered the "hit" without telling the Guardsmen who, what, how or why. They may have tightened restrictions, but the sudden onslaught with no warning, is to me a sign that someone was gunning for Giuliana Sgerna and maybe Calipari and if so, they almost succeeded in killing both.
I think an investigation of the shooting needs be done, but there is so damned much that needs investigation, it is doubtful unless The Italian Prime Minsiter gets off his duff and demands one, that anything will be done about it. What we do need is an end to the Bushites rule of murder and corrution and we need to demand of all contractors in Iraq to return all profits above 5% and if they do not, sue them and if that doesn't work declare Martial Law on the Contractors in Iraq and those that established foreign offices elsewhere in the Middle East and have the US Military surround their offices putting them under siege until they return the No-Bid contract costs less 5% of the gross.
by
Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo (144 articles, 1 quicklinks, 94 diaries, 1190 comments)
on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 11:47:28 AM
