GIs Cleared in Death of Italian

The New York Post reports that an investigation has cleared the soldiers involved in the incident in which an Italian intelligence agent was killed while escorting journalist Giuliana Sgrena to the Baghdad Airport, just after ransoming her from kidnappers. The Post says:

U.S. military officials told NBC News that a joint American-Italian investigation found the soldiers acted properly in firing on a car bearing a just-freed hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena, and an intelligence officer, Nicola Calipari.
The car was about 130 yards from a checkpoint when the soldiers flashed their lights to get it to stop. They fired warning shots when the car was within 90 yards of the checkpoint, but at 65 yards, they used deadly force. Calipari was killed and Sgrena wounded.

The most significant thing, I think, is the joint nature of the investigation. It will be interesting to see whether the Italian authorities endorse and publicize the results of the investigation.
UPDATE: The Associated Press is now reporting that the story referenced above is incorrect. The AP says that the investigation has not been concluded, and, worse, that there is disagreement between American and Italian investigators:

Reluctance by Italian investigators to accept the U.S. version of the killing of an Italian security agent by American troops in Iraq last month is holding up the conclusion of a joint inquiry into the shooting, Italian newspapers said Thursday.

Notice: All comments are subject to moderation. Our comments are intended to be a forum for civil discourse bearing on the subject under discussion. Commenters who stray beyond the bounds of civility or employ what we deem gratuitous vulgarity in a comment — including, but not limited to, “s***,” “f***,” “a*******,” or one of their many variants — will be banned without further notice in the sole discretion of the site moderator.

Responses