Hang in there. Emotions are running high on both sides of this issue and accusations are flying all over the place. Many of us in the US are waiting for the results of the investigation. We have our suspicions but have not yet formed opinions. You will mostly hear from us after the results are published. You are quite correct that the only people who know what happened are the ones who were there and the rest is all speculation.
I wholeheartedly concur. Only, all accusations against the USA are currently being vehemently rejected by our government. When it is stated that there are differences between what we know and what the Americans say it is not to imply that soemeone is lying, but only to explain why we both are going to investigate and prove the HUGE smear campaign groundless. It's how investigations work: see what you have and check what's wrong.
None here doubts it's a normal case of friendly fire. it was officially stated and repeated. The difference is that the the leftist media overemphasized what happened and distorted facts on the ground of Sgrena's initial statements (which she already changed).
let's all THINK: who's going to benefit from a crisis between Italy and the USA? Do I need to suggest the names of at least three nations whose press is unleashing hell about this incident? Have we all already forgotten what GWB explained over and over about the importance of the role of Italy in the last three years for the success of WOT and the diplomatic efforts to overcome the offensive of the axis of weasels?
Beiside that - as someone who reads and follows US press and tv - beleive me if I say that your MSM did the job ours couldn't do. In the aftermath of the incident the communist version of facts was laughed off by most of the populace and even leftist politicians. But when they read the NYT and saw CNN they understood that it could be exploited. And now we're between a rock and a hard place.
Let me tell you that I think that something went wrong among Italians and that your boys did the right thing. When i served I was taught that "an ugly trial is always better than a wonderful funeral" so when a sentinel has doubts, he opens fire period. But then again this is speculation. Let's all wait for the results of investigations and NEVER, for any reason give credit to media reports on what people think or do.
We know what we owe to the US. Let's not help the left to distort facts once more. There's too much at stake.