snippets

Berlusconi contradicts US friendly-fire account

The Guardian- "Mr Berlusconi's version of events contradicts the initial statement from American forces, which said they fired on a speeding car, killing Mr Calipari and wounding Ms Sgrena and another agent, only after it failed to stop at a checkpoint.

In his first substantial address since Friday's shooting, Mr Berlusconi said the idea that Mr Calipari was killed by friendly fire was "painful" to accept. But he said he was assured the US was committed to getting to the bottom of the shooting.

"The US has no intention of evading the truth. I'm sure that in a very short time every aspect of this will be clarified," he said." Is he kidding? Wait, he's just trying to be nice so Italy doesn't suddenly have a terrorist attack.

Troops Who Fired On Hostage Were Protecting U.S. Ambassador

NBC News- BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. troops who mistakenly killed an Italian intelligence agent last week on the road to Baghdad's airport were part of extra security provided by the U.S. Army to protect U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, a U.S. official said Thursday. Are they kidding me? Why didn't they say so last week?
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There was no immediate comment in Rome by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office or the Foreign Ministry. "

US troops get training to avoid friendly-fire attacks on British

UK Times- AMERICAN soldiers in Iraq are being given “anti-fratricide” training to reduce the number of friendly fire attacks against British and other coalition troops, The Times has learnt.

Military hopefuls called anti-social:

Toronto Star- People interested in a career with the Canadian Forces tend to be "lacking in life goals and feel alienated from society and its values," says the document, co-authored by three senior officers.

"They are attracted to violence more than the average member of Canadian society and accept violence as a legitimate means of getting what they want."

Well it's a darn good thing that the Canada isn't fighting the war on freedom. That's all I can say. We don't need people with a propensity for violence in our coalition. whew.