Italy hails "hero" hostage, stands firm on troops (MUST READ - BRAVE GUY HE DIED A HERO!)

Reuters ^ | 4/15/04

[areafiftyone]

ROME, April 15 (Reuters) - An Italian hostage killed in Iraq was hailed on Thursday as a hero who in his last moments told his kidnappers defiantly: "I'm going to show you how an Italian dies."

Fabrizio Quattrocchi, one of four Italian security guards abducted earlier this week, was shot dead on Wednesday after Italy refused to bow to the kidnappers' demands and withdraw some 3,000 troops stationed in Iraq.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said a video recording of the killing showed that Quattrocchi was hooded when his kidnappers put a gun to his head.

"When the murderers were pointing a pistol at him, this man tried to take off his hood and shouted: 'Now I'm going to show you how an Italian dies'. And they killed him," Frattini said.

"He died a hero," he added.

Frattini came under attack from some quarters for breaking the news of Quattrocchi's death during a live television chat show on Wednesday night and the distraught families of the remaining three hostages urged talks with the abductors.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called a meeting of top ministers to discuss the crisis, but his government made clear it would not yield to pressure to remove its forces from Iraq.

"It wouldn't just be vile, it would also damage us if we pulled out (of Iraq) with the job half done. We cannot give in," Defence Minister Antonio Martino told reporters.

Mainstream opposition leaders, many of them deeply critical of Berlusconi's unwavering support for U.S. President George W. Bush during the Iraq conflict, also ruled out negotiations.

"The vile blackmail by a band of criminal kidnappers must not be given the dignity of a political response. Italy is and must remain unified and together," said Francesco Rutelli, leader of a centre-left opposition group, the Daisy party.

TURNING TO UNITED NATIONS

However, both opposition and government supporters said the United Nations had to take a more active role in Iraq to prevent the situation deteriorating further.

"Some say that this isn't yet Vietnam, but unfortunately facts show we aren't far off," said centre-left leader Clemente Mastella. "Before it is too late, the Italian government must do everything possible to internationalise the crisis."

A blurry image of Quattrocchi taken shortly before his death stared out from the front pages on Thursday as Italy faced up to its first full-blown hostage saga in recent memory.

Rome's traditional pro-Arab stance shielded Italians from past bouts of Middle East violence. Berlusconi has changed the diplomatic equation by proving a firm ally of Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Although many Italians have criticised this shift in emphasis, few people, apart from the hostages' families, called for talks with the kidnappers.

"I absolutely oppose what is happening in Iraq, but I don't think that the kidnap and murder of one person should be what shapes policy," said Clara Biondo, a 26-year-old student in Milan. "That would be effectively paying them ransom." (Additional reporting by Clara Ferreira-Marques in Milan)

[Numbers Guy]

The opposition is known as the "Daisy Party"????

Well, I guess we can thank the Daisy Party for standing firm.

[Seruzawa]

Compare Italian lefties to American power-seeking demonRATS.

[Miss Marple]

Apparently the Italian left still understands the concept of national honor.

[areafiftyone]

You know Reuters just couldn't leave the hero story alone - they had to throw in their antiwar Spew.

[Verginius Rufus]

Reuters naturally tries to make this into an anti-war story, but Quattrocchi's heroism comes through nonetheless.

Italian a quattro occhi = "privately" ("for four eyes")

[Ciexyz]

Kudos to this brave Italian hero.

[TexKat]

RIP Fabrizio Quattrocchi and may God bless and strengthen all of Mr. Quattrocchi family and friends.

[areafiftyone]

I am Italian too. Make you proud to be one doesn't it.

[mwyounce]

I'm not making light of this situation... as I said on the duplicate thread that was just locked, he is "a real Italian hero."

But... his name literally translates as "four eyes"? I can't imagine the teasing one would go through in school with that name...

[Slings and Arrows]

Now let's show them how terrorist scum dies. Many times over.

[nutmeg]

read later

[JLS]

Yep and consider that 60 years after WWII, the Italians are brave and the Germans are gutless? Hmm, not the reputations, maybe it was just the Italians in WWII knew their government had them on the wrong side?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[pbear8]

God Bless this brave man and his family. Thank You for giving us a worthy ally such as this man.

[StoneColdGOP]

This dude ROCKS.

It would seem these terrorists have never seen "The Sopranos". Else they would know not to mess with Italians.

[Indie]

Now let's show them how terrorist scum dies. Many times over.

Fear not. Their day is almost here.

[Vesuvian]

«Adesso vi faccio vedere come muore un italiano»

Wow, words fail me.

[AppyPappy]

Bring in the Sicilians. They'll find out who did it and give them all new red neckties and take them for a swim.