- the checkpoint wasn’t properly marked
- responsibility for the US troops can’t be ruled out
- absence of deliberateness doesn’t indeed rule out blame
- excessive and irresponsible use of force
- lack of training and some recommendations.
Berlusconi differed with some of the major conclusions by US military investigators into the March 4 shooting death of Nicola Calipari by US soldiers. The premier contended that the checkpoint wasn’t properly marked and that responsibility for the troops can’t be ruled out. “The absence of deliberateness doesn’t indeed rule out blame,” Berlusconi told lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies, three days after Italy issued its own report concluding that inexperience and fatigue played a role in the fatal shooting.
Follow this story …
But Berlusconi confirmed that the troop deployment would continue. “We have no intention of establishing any connection between the assessment of the case in which our official lost his life and the role of our country in Iraq,” the conservative premier said.
“Our friendship with the United States has overcome more difficult tests than this one,” said Berlusconi, a staunch ally of President Bush.
UPDATED –13:00 EST–
“Our position and expectations were formulated on March 8: shed light on the circumstances of the death of Nicola Calipari. Identify those responsible and call for the guilty to be punished,” Berlusconi said at the start of his address to the chamber, in which many seats were empty despite the magnitude of the controversy.
He reiterated Italy’s view that US soldiers must shoulder some blame, highlighting “irregularities” committed by the US patrol “whose mobile checkpoint was not announced” and “who did not have precise instructions”.
USA TODAY – May 5, 2005 – Opposition leader Romano Prodi, expected to run for premier in elections next year, has contended that while there was no direct link between a pullout and the Calipari case, it was time to discuss the end of the mission. Two months ago, Berlusconi said that if security conditions allowed and the other allies agree, some Italian troops might start coming home as early as September. But no timetable for the start of withdrawal has been set.
After Berlusconi spoke, lawmakers had their say in the chamber. One of them, Piero Fassino, a center-left opposition leader, demanded that the United States apologize.
Calipari was shot at a checkpoint near the Baghdad airport less than an hour after he secured the release of Sgrena, who had been in the hands of her abductors for a month.
Rome prosecutors are conducting their own investigation into the case. But a leading Italian military prosecutor, Antonio Intelisano, told The Associated Press that it was unlikely U.S. soldiers would be prosecuted in Italy given legal restrictions and American protection of its troops in the past.
UPDATED –18:00 EST–
REUTERS — Washington’s refusal to accept the blame has infuriated many Italians and put pressure on Berlusconi to speed up the withdrawal of some 3,000 troops from southern Iraq, which is provisionally slated to start in September.
But the prime minister repeated today that he would coordinate the eventual pullout. “The withdrawal of our troops certainly won’t be unilateral, but agreed with our allies.”
The Communist and Green parties demanded in parliament an immediate end to the Iraq mission, while the largest opposition party, the Democrats of the Left (DS), demanded an apology. “We believe that the government of the United States should say sorry,” DS leader Piero Fassino said in a speech.
ITALIAN INVESTIGATION
Although the military inquiry is closed, Italian magistrates are pursuing their own investigations and Berlusconi said the government would give its full support to their efforts. “We remain committed to doing everything possible to uncover the truth behind what went on and the eventual responsibility for the tragic death of a heroic servant of the Republic,” he said, flanked by senior cabinet ministers.
The Italian report accused U.S. troops of failing to set up “the most elementary precautions” to warn drivers in the approach of a checkpoint, calling the planning and execution of the road block “careless to say the least”.
The US pinned much of the blame on the Italian driver, saying he had been driving too fast, and on a lack of communication from Italy over its secret hostage mission.
“The discrepancies over the causes and modality of this tragic accident proved to be irreconcilable … and I am certainly not going to be the one to minimise the scale of the disagreement,” Berlusconi said.
[Bold face emphasis added – Ed]
UPDATED –23:00 EST–
The 52-page document published by the Italian intelligence services queries the US military’s procedures, but does not find evidence that soldiers deliberately sought to kill Calipari. The Italian report concurs with the US inquiry’s finding about the Italian officer’s warning to his US aide about the rescue operation.
While agreeing on many other points, the Italian version:
- emphasises the lack of warning signals – such as signs, bright cones, concertina wire – given to motorists of an impending roadblock
- says the vehicle speed was half that reported by the Americans, denies there was any acceleration and describes the time between the warning shots and follow-up fire as “excessively short”
- notes that the immediate removal of the vehicles involved, and the destruction of the US soldiers’ duty logs, made “objective conclusions” impossible
- reports that an Italian military commander was not allowed to visit the scene in the immediate aftermath while US officials were given access.
Rome prosecutors are conducting their own investigation into the shooting, involving the analysis of the car in which the Italians were travelling. Criminal charges could stem from their eventual findings.
ITALIAN GOV. REPORT – May 4, 2005
In this photo released on Tuesday, March 8
by the Italian RAI TG1 national television,
military personnel are seen near a car said
to be that in which Italian journalist Mrs.
Giuliana Sgrena was traveling with secret
service operative Nicola Calipari, during
her release in Baghdad, Iraq.
Il Messaggero quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying, “the report must in no case be the starting point of a diplomatic conflict with the United States”. He “read, reread, corrected and tweaked” the report, before handing it back to military intelligence.
According to the press, that was why the report was published four hours later than originally announced.
Italian public opinion has been infuriated by the killing of Mr Calipari, regarded as a national hero who did nothing wrong, as he shepherded journalist Giuliana Sgrena to Baghdad airport after she had been freed from a month in captivity.
The two Italian representatives on a joint US-Italian inquiry into the shootings refused to sign off on the US account of the incident.
CROSS-POSTED AT DAILY KOS —
[Please add a little charme or recommend! Thanks]
Berlusconi Disputes US Report on Agent ¶ Stays Friendly with No Consequences ¶ UPDATED
/by Oui Fri May 6th, 2005 at 23:43:25 PST/
NEWS Items will be added as story develops.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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Yet staying friendly with George and Condoleeza.
Berlusconi’s office said the two leaders had a “long and cordial conversation” during which Bush called Calipari “a heroic servant of Italy” and a “valued friend” of the United States.
According to an Italian government statement, Bush in his call, restated his “personal condolences and those of the administration and people of the United States”.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
just condolences. An apology would indicate some wrong doing and shooting an Italian General on a rescue mission is “not wrong.”
I hate to be the fly in the ointment here but: if Bush said he was sorry would that make any difference?
Ah….good point Cotter. That would represent progress for him, actually..
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by gilgamesh Sun May 1st, 2005
Update [2005-5-2 00:35 by gilgamesh]:
I’ve updated this diary because, on further reflection, I realized I was a bit over-hasty in dismissing out of hand the possibility of deliberate assassination. But I was writing in a hurry.
I still believe it is extremely far-fetched, but the report clearly doesn’t rule it out. Why did the commander responsible for coordinating Negroponte’s movements not bother to radio in to the troops on the ground the command to dismantle the improvised check-points? We’ll probably never really know.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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See earlier diary —
Resolved: US Military Negligence Killed Nicola Calipari
by gilgamesh Sun May 1st, 2005
Outstanding analysis, I am devouring the report on the incident. Have many questions, why first 50% of report is about the dangers in Baghdad since the start of the invasion and occupation.
Odd that in first paragraph of report, a conclusion was drawn:
The rest sucks as an investigation, is more a report on how the military organizes, trains its units nothing is written, new units learn BP and TCP in a week’s time and mostly recommendations for future operations. I thought they already had experiences with hundreds or thousands of incidents in past two year period!
It’s also strange I found no mention in degree of darkness, between 19:38 and 20:50 hours.
“Captain Drew also issued guidance on the importance of force protection. (Annex 74C) He expected to maintain the blocking position no more than 15 minutes.”
About the speed of the car, the report itself is ambiguous. Under dry conditions 3 weeks later:
On Friday, 25 March 2005, a certified radar operator conducted two traffic samples at BP 541. From 1809 hours to 1824 hours, 27 vehicles were clocked. The average speed at the Alert Line was 44 mph. The average speed at the beginning of the on-ramp’s curve was 24 mph. From 1956 hours to 2015 hours, 30 vehicles were clocked. The average speed at the Alert Line was 46 mph. The average speed at the beginning of the curve was 26 mph. Unlike the night of the incident, which was also a Friday, the road was dry during these samples.
After the sharp curve at the beginning of the on-ramp, the speed of the car was 25 mph, the car then accelerates moving down the ramp. The Italian driver Carpani on March 4, wet road conditions and a mobile phone in one hand, would be speeding faster in curve on ramp?? The slow speed of car agrees with the original witness account of Sgrena.
This is a setting for an ambush, for which John Negroponte has early experience in Central America under the regime of Reagan. I recall a setting in El Salvador where US trained military, ambushed a group of six Dutch journalists/reporters of IKON TV. It took the Dutch government years of investigation to find the truth, because the US authorities wouldn’t cooperate. Similar conditions then, the reporters tried to interview opposition groups and tell their side of thr story, a deadly mistake. History repeating itself.
There is no mention, how the BP was manned directly after the shooting incident in such a dangerous area, nor when the order was given to take BP down. I wouldn’t rule out a bogus VIP run organized by our man John Negroponte from Green zone to Camp Victory.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Yesterday the Roman public magistrates who are investigating the shooting heard testimony from the SISMI chief of station in Baghdad who heard the shooting while talking on the phone (with Carpani?).
Also heard was Gianluca Preite, who supposedly intercepted a telephone call in which someone ordered the shooting.
Two more experts were named to examine the Toyota Corolla, now in Italy.
I wonder if Berlusconi will intervene in the findings of the ballistic experts?
Oui, thanks for keeping this in the forefront.
This is jaw-dropping information. Wonder if it can be corroborated.
Franklin Delanor Roosevelt
Great diary, Oui.
I wouldn’t go overboard with Gianluca Preite. He’s already had his run ins with the law for fraud. He asserts that he’s a SISMi agent which is entirely out of character as far as a professional agent would be concerned. I’d say he’s a Zelig on the fifteen minute star circuit, impersonating an officer.
He is represented by the lawyer and crackpot media ham Carlo Taormina who does anything he can to make the front pages here in Italy. Taormina was recently caught red-handed falsifiying evidence in the Cogne murder case and is under investigation for that. He’s the typical Berlusconi product that we have to put up with over here, but good for comedy relief at times.
of the tape.
The question is, whether it would be in Italy’s best interest to do so.
Italy still has nationals in Iraq, including 3000 gunmen, and it would not help Berlusconi domestically should more of them fall victim to tragic mishap.
And even leaving Berlusconi aside, how much is Italy willing to sacrifice for the sake of proving something they are in no position to do anything about, and which proof could mean adverse consequences for the entire nation?
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(AGI) – Rome, Italy. May 2 – Lawyer, Carlo Taormina has spoken once more of an audio tape, in his possession, of a satellite phone call between Iraq and Italy, a copy of which was obtained via the internet, by Gianluca Priete, (who is himself under police investigation for illegally accessing electronic records). It is said that this tape provides proof that the liberation of journalist, Giuliana Sgrena took place in a different manner than that which has up to now been publicly claimed.
NUR al-CUBICLE
In its conclusions, signed by Ambassador Cesare Ragaglini and General Pierluigi Campregher, the Italian team faults the Americans for refusing a dynamic reconstruction of events. The Italians specifically mention “tampering at the scene of the incident” and of the Toyota Corolla, a key piece evidence, in which the Italian intelligence officers and Guiliana were traveling. At the end of its investigation, the Italians even proposed concluding the report by saying it was impossible to attribute responsibility. The US military rejected this compromise, saying it would completely exonerate the patrol to close any loophole permiting further legal action on the part of the Italian judiciary.
THE “BLOCKING” POSITION.
This arrangement differentiates the type of checkpoint. This type of arrangement, underscores the Italian findings, is not subject to any rules because it is generally employed “on the battlefield” and in fact does not incorporate signposting and barbed wire. The Italians particularly fault the US decision of placing “it at the end of an elbow curve.” The report then concentrates on the crime scene investigation carried out together with US officials. “The scene of the incident”–they write–“was altered and the soldiers were unable to indicate their positions at the time of the shooting. They add that the alteration prevented the investigating team from determining the source of weapons fire. Not only that: but according to the Italian team, “between the illumination of the spotlight and the warning shots far more than the three seconds allotted by the patrol would have been required for the driver to come to a complete stop“.
COMMUNICATIONS.
In the report to be handed to the Italian government tomorrow, the CIA station chief was informed of the operation and in the early afternoon he was given the details of the rental car. Also, “US Command was informed 25 minutes before the shooting that the hostage [Mrs. Sgrena] was released.” In any case, the Italians underscore that confidentiality is absolutely routine, even between allies, in such a mission. The statements of the SISMI station chief in Baghdad affirm that he was on the phone with Calipari when the shooting occurred. “It was the [SISMI Station Chief] who asked that all [US-manned] checkpoints be informed and was told that “there were not any checkpoints”. Shortly later, on the request of the [SISMI Station Chief], a US military officer contacted the patrol and this demonstrates that it would have been possible to warn the soldiers that the automobile with the released hostage on board was on the road leading to the airport.
[Captain Green (USA) is the Aide-de-Camp to Major General Mario Marioli (ITAR), DCG, MNC-I. As early as 28 February 2005, Captain Green was aware that a number of Italian VIPs would be coming into BIAP. The date for their arrival kept getting pushed back. He was aware that the VIPs would be involved in working the Sgrena hostage situation. Captain Green knew no specifics beyond that.
Source US Report.]
FORENSIC EVIDENCE.
Other than the duty logs, there are no other written records of communications or tape recordings among involved units relating to the coordination to block Route Irish on the evening of 4 March 2005.
RECONSTRUCTION MAP
[Specialist Lozano was the gunner in the blocking vehicle. He was to remain in the turret, facing north up the on-ramp toward on-coming traffic. From there, he was to operate a three million candlepower hand-held spotlight that he was to shine on approaching vehicles as soon as possible, even before the Alert Line (he was able to see at least 20 meters beyond the Alert Line).
Source US Report.]
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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The Mission
On the evening of 4 March 2005, personnel of A Company of 1-69 Infantry (attached to 2d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division), were patrolling Route Irish, the road linking downtown Baghdad with BIAP. Seven of those Soldiers were then assigned the mission of establishing and manning a Blocking Position (BP) on the southbound on-ramp off Route Vernon to westbound Route Irish. They were to man the BP until relieved, which was anticipated to be after a convoy transporting the U.S. Ambassador to Camp Victory had passed and arrived at its destination.
At approximately 1900 hours, A Company, 1-69 IN received a mission from its Battalion TOC. A Company was directed to establish blocking positions on the four westbound on-ramps along Route Irish to support the movement of a VIP from the International Zone as they would for a Rhino Bus Run mission.
At 1916 hours the 1-76 FA Battle Captain called the 1-69 IN Battle Captain to order all elements to report to their blocking positions for the VIP transit. Captain Drew considered the current enemy situation, and decided to place an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at both Checkpoint 542 and Checkpoint 543, and two HMMWVs each at Checkpoint 540 and Checkpoint 541. He assigned Checkpoint 541 to a team led by Second Lieutenant Acosta.
[…]
Communications Regarding the Mission Duration
Captain Drew checked with the 1-69 IN TOC at least two times seeking to collapse the blocking positions and return his Soldiers to their patrolling mission. The 1-69 IN TOC, after checking with 2/10 MTN TOC, informed him that the convoy had not passed and to stay in position.
1-76 FA was able to communicate the requirement for blocking positions along Route Irish for a VIP movement from the International Zone to BIAP. The security escort platoon with the VIP was able to, and did, relay departure and arrival times to the 1-76 FA Battle Captain.
The VIP convoy departed the International Zone in four HMMWVs (and no Suburban) at approximately 1945 hours. It arrived at the Camp Victory gate at 2010 hours. The convoy reached its destination on Camp Victory at 2020 hours. The VIP returned to the International Zone by helicopter at approximately 2205 hours. The determination to fly by helicopter back to the International Zone was not made until shortly before the VIP departed as a result of clearing weather conditions.
Large Map of Baghdad Area
Intersection just below “AL FIRDAWS” is location TCP/BP 541.
Captain Drew and his men were on the (downward slope) southbound ramp leading to westbound Irish BIAP route, with no traffic due to blocked positions since 19:38PM. How is it possible they had no visual observation of the VIP convoy of four HMMWVs traveling the Irish route to Victory Camp at approx. 20:05PM? Nearly 45 minutes before the car with three Italians were to be fired upon!
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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The Italian report lambaste the hush-hush way the US handled the case, particularly its refusal to give Italian investigators access to the scene of the shooting.
The Italian version rebuts the notion that Italy did not inform the US about Calipari’s mission, saying the Americans were “indisputably” aware that Calipari and Andrea Carpani, a major in Italian intelligence, were in Baghdad, even if they didn’t know the “details of their mission”.
It added that the Italians were not under any obligation to tell the Americans about their hostage negotiations. Italy has been reticent to inform the US of their hostage negotiations for fear, that too much contact with the US would foil their deals.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
The Italian investigators, General Campregher and Ambassador Ragaglini with a team of six experts, arrived in Baghdad on the 13th of March. The American authorities had already done a “forensic examination” of the site based on soldiers’ testimony and digital photos on the 11th. The Italians did have access to the scene. (A grenade was thrown at them from the overpass while they visited the site.)
The problem was not visiting the site, it was the fact that Vangjel gave them his data as hard facts, a fait accompli, which the Italian investigators did not swallow.
Their rebuttal is in the Italian investigative report.
The rest of Der Spiegel’s analysis is substantially correct in its brevity. It may be misleading to attribute fear and reticence as motivations behind Italian conduct. The report simply notes that it would be ridiculous and impractical to keep the Americans informed of everything that goes on in Baghdad, nor is any ally or contractor required to inform the authorities of their movements. Whether there was a ransom paid or a hostage in the car or what Calipari ate for breakfast is not the issue. The issue is whether the blocking post was properly set up and signaled and if the soldiers acted correctly.
The Italian report concludes that the blocking point was tantamount to an illegal checkpoint, albeit without directly declaring it, and that Specialist Mario Lozano simply shot without warning.
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A Math Lesson By Eli Stephens
Meaning, according to the US military’s story, shots were fired at the vehicle less than 0.3 seconds after the vehicle could possibly have begun to slow down. Even if they were paying close attention, and they had immediately perceived that the alleged flashing light was meant as a signal to stop.
The 0.3 second is actually overstated, because the gunman or gunmen, attempting to perceive if the car was responding to their warning signal to slow down, has/have perception and reaction times of their own. So in fact, they were pulling the trigger before they could possibly have perceived if the car was slowing down. Likewise, if the so-called warning shots were supposed to have served any purpose whatsoever, once again the “deadly force” shots were being squeezed off well before the warning shots could possibly have had any effect.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Reason I’m asking:
U.S. President George W. Bush, seated beside Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenend (R), hosts a roundtable discussion with Dutch youth at Chateau St. Gerlach in Valkenburg, Netherlands, May 8, 2005.
The L.A. Times reports on the roundtable but had only the White House abbreviated, censored transcript to draw from — which made their story rather anemic.
I’m wondering if the press in The Netherlands provide a full transcript?
I’ve searched and can’t find a full transcript, only the White House’s version.
Anyone else is welcome to speak up if they can get a full transcript! (And whoever finds it can do it up as a diary/story … it should be great reading.)
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At Chateau Gerlach – see situation map in diary– only a few minutes was an open press attended session, then the doors were shut for a frank, closed session with the students. Similar to 9-11 commission hearing, but for Dick sitting on his lap, ehh beside GW, or vice versa.
Q&A Bush Meets Students — Open Session
Your Wish Is My Command
I thought with diary to do my best for coverage at Margraten. It was an impressive commemoration, with PM Jan Peter Balkenende making a fine speech. I can understand why the transcript of GW is not available of impromptu session with students. Most likely it needs translation into Farsi first, then by inverse-translation, Bush speak can be eliminated and put in English grammar form for understanding.
GW has a – BURST – ECHO – REPEAT – EXPLAIN – repetitiveness, which offers horrible reading at any age. It’s a form of deciphering that is needed before publication.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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Management and all employees of Chateau St. Gerlach were excited and impressed by George and Laura Bush. He made no exception, and thanked everyone with a personal handshake and photo.
Local TV Limburg
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
THANK YOU!
Any transcript anywhere?
I know it makes for horrible reading .. but read we must…
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Worthwhile to link to other diary and content, thank you.
NRC evening paper indicates just small talk
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Do you have a link to a full transcript of his conversation with the students?
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Sorry, no transcript found, appears mostly to have been small talk according to newspapers.
OT need some enlightenment/advise.
Are there blog rules on multi-user registration at single IP-address?
Is there an objection for purpose of anonimity, to have multi-sign names on blog by single user?
Due to anonymous basis of free speech on the blog, how would this be moderated, as a family can have multiple users on the internet.
Are there published rules and regulations here at BooTrib or dKos?
I’m migrating from dKos to BooTrib, under a new sign name Oui and phasing out my old dKos sign name creve coeur. This may be a problem with PP – blogpolice at dKos – is that a possibility? It appears that after her reply to my last comment, I lost the features to make a comment and new diary entry for both registrations. Is this a procedure to have me completely banned from the site within 24 hours, as I still have my log entry and TU status at present.
There are very legitimate reasons to change my sign name. Please advise.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
http://www.basilicatanet.it/news/article.asp?id=329316
May 10 – Leaks regarding the external examination of the Toyota Corolla say that the car has not been compromised by the investigation of the “joint” US/Italian commission in Baghdad. The leaks were confirmed by Giuliana Sgrena’s legal representative, who added that it seems that the results of the Italian ballistic and technical tests will not be influenced by the earlier exams.
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Thanks for addition!
Very useful to know that thorough forensics can be performed on the bullet trajectory, angle, single or multiple shooting, etc. Excellent find.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Thanks to you Oui, for starting this thread and keeping it going.
I look forward to seeing the results of the ballistic tests, etc.
I wonder if Berlusconi will intervene as he did with the Italian report on the shooting.
Rome, May 13 – Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, said that he does not belief that there will further actions on the part of the American military regarding the Calipari case. The military considers the investigation closed – it was an accident. However, diplomatic dialogue remains open. Washington is available to hear possible questions from the Italian government (as the Roman procura is still investigating).
http://www.metronews.it/det.php?id=29695&fid=adnk_id
http://ilgiorno.quotidiano.net/art/2005/05/13/5376301
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venice ca thanks for your coverage!
On the front cover of Saturday’s (June 4) Il Manifesto –
“Contro Calipari spararono almeno in tre” – At least three fired at Calipari.
[Shows current day’s front page – will change when Sunday’s edition is posted on the web.]
I am not a subscriber, so I can’t access the article until tomorrow after 3:00 PM PDT.
Official US report says one soldier in the road block fired at the Toyota Corolla killing Nicola Calipari, and wounding Giuliana Sgrena and the other SISMI agent. Previously Il Manifesto announced that the ballistic experts had found two different caliber bullets. We’ll know more very soon.
by venice ca on Fri Jun 3rd, 2005 at 18:22:04 PDT
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