The Sgrena Affair....a Recap

After scrutinizing the dozens of print articles concerning the release of this "journalist", a clearer picture of what likely happened is beginning to emerge.

First, the Italian government bears significant reponsiblity because of their failure to inform the US diplomatic officials or military of the negotiated release. Had our people been apprized, precautions to avoid this very thing could have been initiated.

Second, Sgrena said that they were not travelling at a high rate of speed, however, other comments she made betray "her truth":
"The car kept on the road, going under an underpass full of puddles and almost losing control to avoid them".

Third, Her stories have been somewhat less than consistent. First they went through no checkpoints, then through several checkpoints and then all checkpoints. Initially she said they had been hit by 300-400 rounds from an armored vehicle later dropping the "rounds estimate" and stating they were attacked by tanks. She at first said the attack was deliberate, but has since said "she doesn't know".

Her sequence of events just don't pass the smell test. She asking us to believe that US forces just opened fire on an unidentified vehicle travelling at a slow speed "for no apparent reason". This is completely contrary military SOP.

U.S. troops "attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals,
flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car," the
statement said. "When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine
block, which stopped the vehicle."

This is the militaries official description of events and would be totally consistent with standard proceedures.

Considering all we know about Sgrena Guiliana, her newspaper and the blatantly radical agendas of both, one must seriously question their credibility. Her description of events contrasted with the facts as we know them just does not add up. One could easily conclude from what we know that the Italy's far left is utilizing rank political exploitation of this event to weaken Burlusconi, soften support for Italian participation in Iraq, and propagandize their fanatical pascifist agenda.
To say that this "journalist" and the people she is associated with have "a dog in the race" is a gargantuan understatement.