Sgrena’s Car Was Speeding
Italian authorities have disputed the American claim that the car transporting freed communist journalist Giuliana Sgrena was traveling at a rapid pace toward the American checkpoint where soldiers fired upon it when it failed to slow down. The speed question has, since the beginning of this controversy, been a point of contention.
Now it would appear as though we have an answer to it:
I think its become pretty clear to anyone who has been paying attention, and who's perception of the matter is clouded with a partisan desire to make America look bad, that the tragedy was the result of the Italians making some serious errors in judgment when planning the rescue. Our soldiers reacted according to their training and the rules of engagement.
This is a controversy that can be put to bed.
Update:
I may have spoken too quickly. There is apparently more to this report than meets the eye.
Now it would appear as though we have an answer to it:
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US satellite reportedly recorded a checkpoint shooting in Iraq last month, enabling investigators to reconstruct how fast a car carrying a top Italian intelligence official and a freed hostage was traveling when US troops opened fire.
The report, which aired Thursday on CBS News, said US investigators concluded from the recording that the car was traveling at a speed of more than 60 miles (96 km) per hour.
Giuliana Sgrena has said the car was traveling at a normal speed of about 30 miles an hour when the soldiers opened fired, wounding her and killing Nicola Calipari, the Italian agent who had just secured her release from a month's captivity.
US soldiers said at the time of the March 4 incident that the car approached at a high rate of speed and that they fired only after it failed to respond to hand signals, flashing bright lights and warning shots.
I think its become pretty clear to anyone who has been paying attention, and who's perception of the matter is clouded with a partisan desire to make America look bad, that the tragedy was the result of the Italians making some serious errors in judgment when planning the rescue. Our soldiers reacted according to their training and the rules of engagement.
This is a controversy that can be put to bed.
Update:
I may have spoken too quickly. There is apparently more to this report than meets the eye.
