After-Action Truth

Preliminary results from the joint U.S.-Italian investigation into the friendly fire shooting at a U.S. military checkpoint in Baghdad are set to be released Thursday. The incident wounded Italian Communist and journalist Giuliana Sgrena and killed intelligence agent Nicola Calipari. MSNBC says the report "cleared the American soldiers of any wrongdoing and provides new details into the shooting":

The investigation found the car was about 130 yards from the checkpoint when the soldiers flashed their lights as a warning to stop. But the car kept coming and, at 90 yards, warning shots were fired. At 65 yards, when the car failed to stop, the soldiers used lethal force — a machine gun burst that killed Calipari and wounded Sgrena and the driver. . .

In Italy, agent Calipari was given a state funeral, but the investigation found he himself may have committed a fatal error. He reportedly chose not to coordinate his movements with the U.S. military for fear it would jeopardize his efforts to free the Italian hostage.

The report apparently will confirm Sgrena's estrangement from the truth:

The man driving the car carrying communist writer and newly released terrorist hostage Guiliana Sgrena didn't slow down as he approached a roadblock on the way to the airport. Perhaps he was afraid and fear led to speed, or perhaps he was laughing. Sgrena wrote that her car "kept on the road, going under an underpass full of puddles and almost losing control to avoid them. We all incredibly laughed. It was liberating. Losing control of the car in a street full of water in Baghdad ..."

Roadblocks have rules. Coalition and Iraqi troops operate roadblocks with Rules of Engagement (ROE). The ROE can change, based on current intelligence and command judgment.

But one rule never changes at a roadblock: Even escorted military convoys slow down as they approach a roadblock. As for a single civilian auto approaching at high speed? If a driver doesn't hit the brakes, the troops will shoot.

Sgrena insisted American troops had been alerted to her plan, deliberately targeted her and fired 300-400 rounds at her car. Look at two photos of her car after the incident-does that look like hundreds of rounds?

Sgrena's bias, flip-flops and lies have forfeited the trust of fellow Italians. Other European reporters are still more critical:

Sgrena’s attitude is a disgrace for journalism. Or didn’t she tell me back in the plane that ‘common journalists such as yourself’ simply do not support the Iraqi people? ‘The Americans are the biggest enemies of mankind,’ the three women behind me had told me, for Sgrena travelled to Iraq with two Italian colleagues who hated the Americans as well.

’You don’t understand the situation. We are anti-imperialists, anti-capitalists, communists,’ they said. The Iraqis only kidnap American sympathizers, the enemies of the Americans have nothing to fear. . .

With her bias Sgrena did not only jeopardize herself, but due to her behavior a security officer is now dead, and the Italian government (prime minister Berlusconi included) has had to spend millions of euros to save her life. It is to be hoped that Sgrena will decide to have a career change. Propagandist or MP perhaps. But she should give up journalism immediately.

I'm sorry a man was killed accidentally. But the Italians kept us in the dark: while American soldiers were guarding checkpoints, the Italians opened their checkbook, bribing the terrorists with several million dollars to win her release. Sgrena, and our Italian allies, temporarily suspended the Bush doctrine to appease our terrorist enemies, then tried to cover-up a speeding get-away car. They wanted to implement "don't ask, don't tell"--in a war zone. Bad idea: and no reason to blame America.

(via Kevin at Wizbang)

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According to Powerline, AP now is reporting that the investigation isn't complete.