Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Stop for the Nice Men with Guns
There's been some outrage over news that an Italian reporter was rescued from insurgents by paying a ransom of several million dollars... and on the way to the airport, her vehicle was shot up by American soldiers, and one of the men who negotiated for her release was killed. Even from her hospital bed, this news reporter from the "Il Manifesto", a Communist newspaper, was heard mentioning that it was a conspiracy by the United States to prevent anyone from negotiationg with the terrorists. U.S. forces must have the psychic ability to determine whether someone has just negotiated with terrorists, and are driven to hunt down and kill them at any cost. Yeah... right.
Nevermind the fact that the people who had rescued her were driving at high-speed at night towards a checkpoint with armed soldiers. Nevermind the fact that the Italian security forces did not alert American forces to the fact that they had just rescued a hostage. Nevermind the fact that they were driving in a generic pick-up truck. If anything, this was a brutal show of Italian ignorance to reality. Driving around at night in an occupied country in a generic pick-up truck is entirely their own fault. Then there's the fact that they kept driving at high-speed towards the checkpoint, even after being warned. What would you do if a soldier with a rifle is waving his arms around screaming for you to stop? Just keep going and hope he's really friendly? I think I would stop!!!
Maybe in the future Italy will plan ahead a bit better with the U.S. leadership in the area so that way no one accidentally gets hurt or killed. A little common sense would go a long way in such a dangerous place. :-? You can read the full story on the Washington Times Insider (registration required). ¶ 10:32 PM
There's been some outrage over news that an Italian reporter was rescued from insurgents by paying a ransom of several million dollars... and on the way to the airport, her vehicle was shot up by American soldiers, and one of the men who negotiated for her release was killed. Even from her hospital bed, this news reporter from the "Il Manifesto", a Communist newspaper, was heard mentioning that it was a conspiracy by the United States to prevent anyone from negotiationg with the terrorists. U.S. forces must have the psychic ability to determine whether someone has just negotiated with terrorists, and are driven to hunt down and kill them at any cost. Yeah... right.
Nevermind the fact that the people who had rescued her were driving at high-speed at night towards a checkpoint with armed soldiers. Nevermind the fact that the Italian security forces did not alert American forces to the fact that they had just rescued a hostage. Nevermind the fact that they were driving in a generic pick-up truck. If anything, this was a brutal show of Italian ignorance to reality. Driving around at night in an occupied country in a generic pick-up truck is entirely their own fault. Then there's the fact that they kept driving at high-speed towards the checkpoint, even after being warned. What would you do if a soldier with a rifle is waving his arms around screaming for you to stop? Just keep going and hope he's really friendly? I think I would stop!!!
Maybe in the future Italy will plan ahead a bit better with the U.S. leadership in the area so that way no one accidentally gets hurt or killed. A little common sense would go a long way in such a dangerous place. :-? You can read the full story on the Washington Times Insider (registration required). ¶ 10:32 PM
