Ordinary Iraqi’s now believe freedom is possible. They WANT it. They will not acquiesce.

Besides, the ‘peace and quiet’ of before emptied the land of 1/6 of its people ..it was really a disquieting peace… and it created injustice and sadness upon the Iraqis, much as exists in Cuba today, where an intelligent people must live with the fact that any rogue willing to steal 1 cigar daily earns more money than a doctor.

The ordinary people of Iraq ARE fighting for their freedom, willing to risk their entire family..if one snake should rat on them. But, they have a greater fear, that the snakes regain power …and the thought is too much to bear. The snakes must not gain rule of the place again..and the people know this. Truly they do.

Iraqis view with great pride the opportunity they have … once they stamp down these snakes…

Europe surely understands the desire of Iraqi’s to be free. You all fought two world wars to remain sovereign and free.

I just hope the Iraqi politicians are not greedy and are realistic..the constituent parts of Iraq are not exactly homogenous…and their neighbors have many desires and interests concerning Iraq.

Craig. You must have a difficult time reading le Carre. Try looking at it from another angle - which group will alienate ordinary Iraquis the quickest: the invaders (of the status quo) or the spoilers (of a quiet life)?

Or, to put it another way: which lot are likely to lose first?

I would say that shooting the back of the car indicates a late response. Shooting the front indicates an earlier response. One’s shooting position and target field are of course relevant. If a stoppage is attempted, and there exists no a priori DESIRE to shoot, one would presumeably end up shooting from the rear(kind of hard to get the engine block, of course).

DoDO, what is really on your mind? Do you believe, and hope, that somehow or some way, a viable explanation might be provided, whether true or not, that points to someone high up in the USA ordering the murder of Sgrena. That would be a nightmarish type dream!

Quesstion:”Why in the world, would the americans not strongly desire to save the anti-american, communistic, Italian journalist who was kidnapped and treated to a harrowing experience by her captors; the same ‘friends’ who extracted a huge bribe upon or life, and told her that she was not wanted in Iraq because they did not want her witnessing what they were all about (as if she had not seen enough!)?”

Point: If a “murder theory” had some basis, it would not undo the fact that A) the USA and its people have paid a huge price to help Iraq, and B) the act of murdering Sgrena would be (i) un-american and harmful to the USA, and (ii) beneficial to anti-americans and Euro sideliners who morally support the insurgents and terrorists against the Iraqi’s…

Question: Do people support these gangsters, in a kind of backhanded or deceitful way, because they hope that their home countries may weasel back in to Iraq as they had previously burrowed, contrary to UN declarations, and resume oil deals with a new un-democratic tyrant that can subdue the democracy before it can defend itself? What other good reasons exist for this sneaky support? It is hard for me to think of any others, unless one truly has zero feelings for the Iraqis and’or maliciously hopes for evil to befall an old ally and friend (the USA) and its people? I choose to not believe this evilness..but then again, just look at people behind the wheel of a car!

Apparently, it’s still on its way. It is at Baghdad Airport. And the US still finds resons to prevent Italisns from investigating the wreckage.

Bob: How could you possible know what ’side’ this is? Furthermore, do you think that the paper which took these photos would ignore damage from the other side of the car?

a) Standard geometry. b) It wasn’t the paper’s photographs, it was photographs released to the press from government sources.

Also, new details emerge. The machine gun bullet that hit Srgena the worst (Colin, other articles spoke of slinters because this one split in four) came from behind - they were shot at even after passing the tank. This makes the clueless-soldiers-shooting-in-panic theory less likely. While the fact that the driver was the only one of the four in the car who was lightly hurt can be better understood. (Also, the calibre makes the ricochet theory less likely.)

Seriously, I just think we all should wish the best for each other. It seems many people emotionally wish or truly hope the USA fails in Iraq, and there is no concern over the misery that that would cause. Why do people wish this? 1) So that the US will be punished for original sins? 2)To realize specific or general anti-american political aims? 3)To propogate political aims that are less likely to succed if Iraq succeeds? 4)To corroberate stated personal opinions? 5) Other Reasons?

It would be interesting to know why. At least we have a good idea of Giuliana Sgrena’s.

My wish is that the middle east advances economically, socially and politically.

Yes, Texan business interests (and american crusaders against rogue terrorist groups and regimes) trumped the French, German, and Russian business interests in Iraq. So we were all misrepresented … but it is now obvious that an opportunity exists to reduce world tyranny just a little. Given the huge expenditure of money and life by america and several other countries, it would be a shame if no good came from it all.

There will be even more tyranny if this effort fails entirely.

Do I lean to the US side? Yes.. I know this is just rationalization… But there seems to be no other country likely to step up and take on world problems when the cost is at all heavy.

In the end, I believe that the US must be supported AND that the US must involve others through whatever associations work, BEFORE they act.

And I think, that for americans to have a ‘better world’, they need to have many other like minded countries to share it with.. sharing ideas, sharing power, and sharing responsibility.

Europes nearly 50 states (or perhaps a smaller group of them) have the potential to be the equal of the United States and North America (politically)… that would be a great thing for America. Competition among friends means growth, not reduction.

Wars are commonly begun for the wrong reasons. World War 1, for example. But then, the war itself sometimes takes on a meaning that cannot be ignored.

Now, the USA owes it to Iraq to give them a chance at gaining a good democratic country. Plus, other middle eastern countries and citizens are benefitting.

I feel Europe owes it to America to lend substantial support. Not because of Bosnia, and the 2 world wars and many other issues, but because we are close allies and friends, and we could really use the help (especially our troops). The sooner this ends, the better for everyone. The battle is now a good one, beyond its beginnings.

The Americans, Brits and other countries supporting the effort are now in a humanitarian policing action. Europe will benefit from this effort more than the Americans.

She is also shocked that I, who now in Florida, believe Canada should recognize its geography (70% of Canadians live at the same latitude as Seattle, USA or south of it) and become one with the USA!!!!

But I am a little bemused/disturbed too. How can nice people like yourselves wish hell on earth for the Iraqi’s, so that you could rest easy that your GOOD OPINION is correct. It is a little evil attitude y’all have.. wishing the worst on them…kind of like when one gets behind the wheel of a car.

Iraq is fighting for its survival and freedom ..against murderers. It is a dream many middle easterners have..but they have heretonow thought it an impossible one. They need help.

Three countries in Europe; France, Germany and and Russia clearly supported Saddam by illegally conducting significant and vital trade with Saddam, allowing him to continue to rule over his people…..most Iraqi’s hated him.. one in six fled the country… during his rule.

But 7 of the 10 largest countries in Europe and the majority of states in Europe did send troops to Iraq to support the US, despite the protestations of the 3 neighbors who had serious conflicts of interest in Iraq (they had behaved terribly).

P.S. 1 Iraq’s Misery
1 in 6 Iraqi’s leaving a country or dying is proportional or the the same as 12 million Germans, 10 million Frenchmen or 25 million Russians departing their country of birth in one generation….somethig like the death and displacement the three countries endured in WW11

P.S. 2 The Incident
Italy’s government has domestic political considerations to consider. The blood of a private in the US army is the goal….

You know, these soldiers are just doing their jobs..and the whole world wants them to be superheroes, defending hostile journalists, building infrastructure, teaching, administering medicines, fighting criminals and terrorists, policing, guarding, teaching, ignoring their own safety, being blamed for those they kill, and those that die because they don’t kill …..

I do not want the blood of a young man, simply because he did his job or made a mistake. Only if he is evil.

I think if one is not actively fighting evil, they should support the heros, or at least, stay out of the way and not support the dark side. Iraqi’s know who the dark side is. And, it is not the Americans.PERIOD

In response to Oliver’s comment “If the US really wanted her dead, she?d be dead and there?d be no surviving Italian witnesses.” There are so many things wrong with this sentence… none of which are grammatical… I believe your comment to be true (potentially) and the terrying implications that it implies should not be understated. The US shoudl not have this kind of power, it can be mismanaged and used for unworthy causes. It is no wonder the entire world perceives the US as an international bully.

My God, let’s just take that hell out of Iraq and stop killing innocent people including our own boys and girls out there fighting a war that has completely lost coherent meaning.

Fact 1: The car was heavily shot at by US troops. Some 400 bullets were later secured from the wreck.”

riight. FACT. does anyone at ffoe know how many large caliber machine gun bullets need to be fired at a civilian sedan to retain “400″ bullets (or even m16 bullets which tend to break apart when they hit something hard). i’d guess nearly a hundred thousand (it’s a bit like winning the lottery for each one retained). please include sources with your response.

“have nothing but the utmost respect for Ms. Sgrena and her work….”

how big of an idiot do you have to be endorse communism?…because there are so many examples that it works, right?

“and I am sympathetic to her ordeal and the terror she has been through. I?m conflicted on the issue of the ransom.”

awwww. conflicted are you? go ahead and snuggle up in your blanket and take a nap… the world will stop any important developments while you sleep. go ahead. night, night. the ransom money will go to starving families, i assure you….
you are the most dangerous attitude in the world right now. idiot.