Anticipating Report on Baghdad Shooting, U.S.-Italy Tension Rises

[Jon8503]

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
International Herald Tribune
Published: April 27, 2005

ROME, April 26 - Tensions between the United States and Italy surged today, as Italian politicians and citizens reacted furiously to leaked reports in the Italian news media that a joint investigation into the shooting death of an Italian agent in Baghdad would absolve American soldiers of guilt in the incident.

The United States ambassador to Rome, Mel Sembler, met twice with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his top aide at the government headquarters to try to avert a crisis that could cost the United States one of its staunchest European allies in the Iraq conflict.

Mr. Berlusconi has kept 3,000 Italian troops in Iraq, even though Italy's involvement is wildly unpopular here. The news that the inquiry might absolve the American soldiers of all guilt comes at an extremely vulnerable moment for the beleaguered Mr. Berlusconi, who was forced to resign temporarily last week; he has since formed a new and tenuous coalition government.

This evening, in a pre-scheduled speech before Parliament, Mr. Berlusconi insisted that the investigation into the death of the agent, Nicola Calipari, was not finished, and criticized the news reports as "unfortunate indiscretion." The speech had been intended to highlight Mr. Berlusconi's economic plans for Italy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/international/europe/26cnd-italy.html

[Rex]

1. Negroponte goons killed Italy's agent and meant to kill the journalist too

as a result, Berlusconi nearly lost his job. With Bush claiming immunity, watch for Italy to withdraw troops and support.

[othermeans]

2. How about this cartoon from Il Manifesto

http://www.ilmanifesto.it/Quotidiano-archivio/26-Aprile-2005/vauro.htm