Yesterday, Media For Democracy sent our an action alert urging members and others to support the call for an independent probe into the Giuliana Sgrena incident in Iraq. Our concerns provoked an avalanche of letters raising important questions. Some are just knee jerk “faith based” defenses of the government’s “investigation.” Others question our own response. I want to share the letter if you missed it and some of the responses as well as my own.

Protest the Cover-Up of the Shooting of Giuliana Sgrena

By Danny Schechter, MediaChannel.org

NEW YORK, April 14, 2005 — When Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena’s car was fired upon near the Baghdad airport by U.S. soldiers, resulting in her wounding and the death of intelligence agent Nicola Calipari, press freedom groups demanded an impartial and independent international investigation. The Pentagon rebuffed the call.

Instead, the United States military investigated itself — amidst reports that an Italian invited to join the probe was denied access to the vehicle that was involved in the incident. This is consistent with earlier U.S. responses to demands by Reuters and the International Federation of Journalists for independent inquires into earlier shootings of journalists. In every case, the Pentagon rejected outsiders from the process.

Last night on CBS’s “60 Minutes Two,” Sgrena denied the official story and accused the United States military of lying about the details.

Sgrena says she was less than a half-mile from the airport, when the shooting began: “Seven hundred meters more, and we are in the airport, and we will be safe and we will be in the airport. And in the same moment, started the shooting.”

Sgrena says that as the car rounded a turn, driving no faster than 30 miles an hour, it was hit by gunfire and at the same time, a bright light. She and Calipari were in the back seat. “He [Calipari] pushed me down and with this, the body, covered me,” says Sgrena. “He pushed me down in the car. And I was asking, ‘Why?’ Nicola doesn’t say, he doesn’t speak it, doesn’t say nothing.”

Other reports based on earlier interviews and another eyewitness account insisted: They lied about the checkpoint, speeding, hand and arm signals, warning shots, etc. There was no “checkpoint” where the shooting incident took place. The car was not “speeding”, there were no “hand and arm signals”, there were no “warning shots”, and there were no “engine block” shots. The shooters ambushed the car from behind. There were earlier reports that an “elite combat unit,” a CIA contingency of personal body guards for new national intelligence chief John Negroponte, may have been involved.

These are serious charges, yet a military-led investigation is poised to exonerate the soldiers and dismiss the critics once again. The pro-war Murdoch-owned New York Post reports today:

“April 14, 2005 — U.S. soldiers reportedly have been cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting of an Italian journalist and an intelligence agent last month in Baghdad. “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.”

MediaChannel/Media for Democracy is calling on its members and supporters as well as media colleagues to join us in protesting this latest outrage and cover-up. Support press freedom — denounce the suspicious killings and harassment of journalists in Iraq. Since the invasion in March 2003, more than a dozen journalists and media staff have been killed in Iraq by U.S. troops. Tell the Pentagon and the White House that the United States needs to act to defend its traditions of liberty and justice by addressing the concerns of journalists and citizens around the world over the failure to conduct credible investigations into the deaths of journalists and media staff in Iraq.

• George W. Bush
  President, United States of America
  The White House
  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  Washington, DC 20500
  Tel.: +1 202-456-2461
  Email: president@whitehouse.gov

• Donald H. Rumsfeld
  Secretary of Defense, United States of America
  1000 Defense Pentagon
  Washington, DC 20301-1000
  Email: www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html

• Peter Vangjel
  Brigadier General, United States Army
  1000 Defense Pentagon
  Washington, DC 20301-1000
  Email: www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html

We Demand the Truth. Please speak up and speak out.

Sincerely,
Danny Schechter
Editor, MediaChannel.org
Director, “WMD (Weapons of Mass Deception)”
www.wmdthefilm.com

If you do write, send us a copy of your letter and any response.

EXPRESSING OUTRAGE: A DEBATE ON TACTICS AND GOALS

Our letter calling for independent investigations into incidents in which journalists have been shot and killed has ignited a storm of protest and concern, Some question the need, believing in the government claims as if we have not seen a stream of contradictory reports on other issues that rarely satisfy critics or release key evidence and information.

There is a valid debate on the utility of writing to the President and Defense Department which is waging this war. Yes, of course, it is unlikely to do any good, win any admissions, or result in positive response.

But, that is not the point.

The point is that we have to find a way to stand up, all of us, for a journalism of truth. We need to support the calls by respected press freedom groups for the principle of independent investigation, not whitewashes by parties with an interest in the outcome of the investigation. I don’t know Guilana or her politics. I do respect her reporting or at least what I have read in English. My understanding is that her newspaper is an independent left publication, not a Communist Party organ. That, too, is besides the point.

The point is that after so much bloodshed and deception — and so many unanswered questions about whether journalists have been targeted — explored in my film WMD (Weapons of Mass Deception) and by press freedom groups, it is clear that the full story is not being disclosed. News agencies like Reuters — hardly a political group — have demanded independent probes of the killings of their staffers. The Pentagon has told them to get stuffed. So this is not a partisan issue or a political one.

Why is is it so hard for some people to recognized that governments — all governments — lie and cover up, and cannot be trusted to investigate themselves.

Will writing emails help? I don’t know. But as citizens of the US and the world, we have some duty to speak up when outrages occur even if its not clear if we will be able to change things. What “works?” Protests of millions of people have not stopped the war. Elections have been fiddled with in this country and others. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t vote or protest.

In point of fact, public opinion polls show that a majority of Americans are turning against President Bush. I remember how in the days of the Vietnam War that the public first rallied around the war until it didn’t. I haven’t given up on hopes that we can influence public opinion.

I have been writing almost every day about incident after incident of deception by the government and the media. I have written books about it and made films. Why bother? The deception continues. Should I just throw in the towel? Call me naïve but I know from experience that persistence matters and that the truth will set us free, or at least help to, hopefully.

Besides, I don’t know what else to do.

So, by all means, let’s debate and discuss better tactics and strategies. Let’s stand up for the values and principles we believe in. Is my letter perfect? Will Bush and Rummy turn their policies around because of it? No, not at all. They are losing as it us.

But at least I am trying to something and hopefully this discussion is worth having.

THE LETTERS ARE PASSIONATE!

Chuck O’Brien is against writing letters but urges journalists to ask tough questions:

“Danny, you could challenge the journalists. You could demand that if they are worthy of the liberty and freedom they intend to defend, then they must uncover this whole story beyond all doubt, and against all odds.

who were the individual shooters? Names! how long were they each on this “roadblock” assignment? Proof! what were their previous assignments? Official records and collaborations! how many other cars were on the road; had passed by in the last 5 minutes? When was the last time they shot at a car? Why? who gave the order to fire? trace that chain of command all the way up. If and when answers are denied or stonewalled - report by whom and go up!! And do the same for all us killings of journalists and investigate for connectivity. Dig, dig, dig: unearth the truth, freedom of the press, and your fellow journalists!

“And Danny, piss-off with these meaningless letter campaigns to the heart of the conquerors camp: they are so easily dismissed. Such efforts may sound sincere one day to our grandchildren, but they will already have been taught that we all were no more than disillusioned fools. By then, they will be correct!

Jodi Guyot explores the dilemma implicit in writing to the deaf.

“I read with great interest your email regarding the cover-up of the shooting of Giuliana Sgrena. I have been deeply disturbed by this and believe there is much more to this than we are being told. I was all pumped up, ready to join the protest action. And then I got to the bottom and saw that you advocated emailing George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and the Army General.

“Hmmmm…. Are we trying to appeal to their sense of justice?? Their respect for democracy?? Their convictions that the American people (and the world) deserve to be told the truth??

“You are JOKING, right??? You can’t possibly think these people — of ALL people! –would be swayed by anything like public outcry. Or petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures. Or MILLIONS of people marching in the streets. You are actually urging us to email the creeps responsible? I am absolutely dumbfounded by such naïveté on behalf of a progressive grassroots organization. Did you forget for a second what country you live in???

“I would love to join an action to force this issue, but these are not the people who are going to make it happen. We need to lobby people that can make this happen DESPITE the people on your list. The problem is, we no longer have a democracy. The Republicans control EVERYTHING (courts, House, Senate, White House, the MEDIA, the Military, the Attorney General, half +1 of the American people - all are under their spell/control) and they are more interested in protecting their beloved President/Dictator than protecting our journalists and citizens who want to speak and know the truth. The alternative/progressive media sings to the choir with no real reach, and the majority of democrats in power are completely cowed by this administration. Facts, video footage, expert testimony, eye witness accounts — none of this seems to have any effect on the partisanship of the majority. We can’t even stop someone like Bolton (!) from being appointed Ambassador to the UN. This guy HATES the UN. Despite the damning testimony of people from their own party, this guy will still pass just because Bush wants to give the finger to the UN and the world and the Republicans think that is his God-given right.

“Forget the embarrassment for the American people and the potential for more airplanes crashing into buildings… All that matters to them is pleasing this Administration.

“I am trying to think of who we could possibly lobby to bring about this credible investigation, but I am afraid the people we are trying to investigate control the WORLD for the moment and there is very little anyone (or any country, or organization of countries) can do (or at least would be willing to do). This is probably the scariest revelation of all: they can get away with murder –literally — and there is nothing anyone can do. Not only murder, but election rigging, torture, hostile invasion of sovereign nations, gulags, nuclear proliferation, the repeated deployment of weapons of mass destruction (indeed, has anyone else ever actually used them on such a grand scale and with such impunity?), and an intentional acceleration toward global environmental disaster. Welcome to the new America — now shut up and go shopping.

“I like you and will humor you and email these guys. But please, GET REAL….

“‘LEFTYS’ CONTROL THE MEDIA”

Tim Jenson writes

“Oh yes,

“I get you now. Another one of the Hate America crowd. You believe a communist foreign reporter as she lies instead of our own people. Of course where else would she show up but on “60 minutes”.

“Typical

“Just so you know - You left wing hate America slimeballs make the majority of us in America sick. We will beat you at the ballot box next election just as we have the last three.

“Go ahead, spread your stinking lies. We see through it.We will remember it. You only expose yourselves.

“The last election proved it. We will get another 2 to 4percent next time around because you leftys no longer control the media. Thus the public sees through your lies more everyday.

“Keep it up. We that love America enjoy see you choke yourselves with your own ropes of deceit.”

a m dambrosi writes:

“I just read your latest action alert vis a vi the attempted assassination of the Italian reporter and the death of the intelligence officer. Let us assume that their story Is correct and that a death squad type ambush was done. Does the name Negroponte, Honduras, Iran Contra, Warfare School of the Americas ring a bell? You want me to send Bush an email when he’s at the head of all of this? You get Woodward and Bernstein of today’s generation to follow the money and you won’t need me to send the guys who’re doing this shit an email.

“Maybe this was a payback to Berlesconi to get a stone out of his shoe…i.e.,that it was the intelligence officer who was the target and the reporter was convenient collateral damage. Point is the same people who brought us permanent war#1(Vietnam, I know I was there)Brown and Root, now Kellog Brown and Root,i.e.,KBR of Haliburton,the death squads out of Honduras going into El Salvador and Nicaragua, Ollie North, jeez theist is endless and they were just put back in power by 51% of the people.

“If the press won’t do it then we’re up shit’s creek with the way they have DC clamped down we may never see the truth come out. Sending them an email is just another way to get me on someone’s death list. I won’t do it.”

Carolyn Gray writes:

“I’m totally behind your efforts - and have made my own efforts…

“That said, where ARE the Democratic leaders in the Senate on this and so many other incredible outrages?

“Do they REALLY think that a handful of milquetoast protests equates to a “loyal opposition?”

“What WILL it take for THEM to express loud and sustained outrage - such that the MEDIA and the White House can no longer ignore the calls for accountability?”

VALID QUESTIONS

Lincoln Shlensky raises some important questions but perhaps doesn’t realize that our efforts are focused on media. I believe establishing the needed for independent investigations is a matter of international justice.

“As a supporter of Democracy in Action [he means Media for Democracy, the advocacy arm of MediaChannel.org], I have to say that I am confused as to how you are choosing to allocate your time and resources. Although the Sgrena case is unfortunate and may even involve a cover-up, I cannot see how it can be at the top of a serious alternative political agenda.

“What do you expect to uncover? Errors and misjudgments, or a conspiracy? Of what kind? Why is Democracy in Action devoting time to this instead of the floundering US reconstruction effort in Iraq, Guantanamo abuses, Iran, torture in military prisons, Caterpillar’s actions in the occupied territories — a whole range of issues the import of which seems far more significant than the Sgrena affair?”

THEY SHOULD HAVE KILLED HER

James Holland writes:

“When *Italian Communist Giuliana Sgrena’s *car was fired upon near the Baghdad airport by U.S. soldiers, resulting in her wounding and the death of intelligence agent Nicola Calipari, press freedom groups demanded an impartial and independent international investigation. The Pentagon did not rebuff the call.

“Those SOLDIERS were on duty did their Jobs properly. Calipari committed a fatal error by choosing not to coordinate his movements with the U.S. military for fear it would jeopardize his efforts to free the hostage. It took about four seconds from the first warning to the fatal shots, but the soldiers responded properly under the current rules of engagement. U.S. troops shot at the car when it was 65 yards away, after flashing warning lights at 130 yards and firing warning shots at 90 yards.

“They were remiss in not using larger caliber bullets and accomplishing the task properly!

“So kiss my ass —”

And So it Goes……. Other letters below.