"Harry Krause" wrote in message

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. forces fired at a car carrying Italian reporter
Giuliana Sgrena......

Gabriele Polo, the editor of Il Manifesto newspaper, said Sgrena's car
was fired on as it made its way to Baghdad airport.

What Reuters conveniently omits.......
(from CNN) ....According to a multinational forces statement, the car
approached the checkpoint at high speed about 9 p.m. (1 p.m. ET)

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, killing one and wounding two
others."

In other words, US or other coalition forces used the same checkpoint
procedures that have been in force in Iraq for a long, long time.
Anyone..... anyone..... who approaches a military checkpoint in Iraq at
night and fails to heed warnings is a silly damned fool, among other things,
and must bear a large share of responsibility for ensuing events.