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Michelle Malkin - ITALY PROMISES: NO MORE RANSOM

On a related note, it’s now official: Slain Italian intelligence official Nicola Calipari “kept US in the dark.”

Rome - US authorities in Iraq were kept in the dark about an Italian operation to free a kidnapped journalist which ended in debacle with an intelligence officer killed by US troops, an Italian general was quoted on Saturday as saying.

Italian agent Nicola Calipari died in gunfire near a US checkpoint and journalist Giuliana Sgrena was wounded as their car drove to Baghdad airport on March 4, just after her release.

Mario Marioli, a deputy commander of the US-led coalition troops in Iraq, was quoted by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica as saying: “I asked Calipari if I should inform our American allies of the hostage-freeing operation, but his reply was that under no circumstances was the ally to be informed.”

I’ll let Bush take the call from Burlesconi, who is easily forgiven, but I’m sure the rest of us will anticipate with bated breath Giuliana’s assuredly forthcoming “olive branch.”