April 16, 2004
UNBOWED
With good reason, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini declares murdered hostage Fabrizio Quattrocchi a hero:
As the gunman's pistol was pointing at him the hostage "tried to take off his hood and shouted: 'now I'll show you how an Italian dies,'" [Frattini] said.
Puzzlingly, Al-Jazeera says that footage of Quattrocchi’s death is “too gruesome” to broadcast. Puzzling, because Al-Jazeera has never had problems before with screening gruesome footage. Maybe Al-Jazeera just can’t cope with Italian defiance.
Posted by Tim Blair at April 16, 2004 02:20 AMIt's blindingly clear who's side Al-Jazeera is on...and why a such a video (showing clear deifance by a civilian to his terrorist captors) would not go down all that well with them.
Posted by: Richard at April 16, 2004 at 02:29 AMQuattrocchi's defiance to the terrorist scum to the end should be a source of national pride for Italy.
To suffer death at the hands of terrorists you are a victim, to retain your honour in the face of death you are a hero.
Posted by: JBB at April 16, 2004 at 02:50 AMHe sounds as though he was an exemplary man. If only the "hostage" in the story above this one had such courage and integrity.
Posted by: ushie at April 16, 2004 at 02:51 AMThat's exactly why they didn't show it. Fabrizio Quattrocchi didn't crawl.
Posted by: Donnah at April 16, 2004 at 03:11 AMI dunno Tim. You've sourced the story from the BBC and SMH, both of which you have convincingly pointed out are biased and untrustworthy.
Posted by: Garibaldi at April 16, 2004 at 03:17 AMGaribaldi -
In the (US) Federal Rules of Evidence, this is called a Statement Against Interest -- if the other side says something that works against their interests, it is deemed reliable.
I believe other common law countries have a similiar rule.
Posted by: Andrew at April 16, 2004 at 03:35 AMJesus Christ, I'm in tears.
I usually log in as Dave S., but not today.
Posted by: Dave Schipani at April 16, 2004 at 04:16 AMI agree. What was "gruesome" about it was Quattrocchi's display of more courage in one minute than his killers ever have, or ever will display.
I look forward to seeing how they behave when the guns are pointed at them.
Posted by: Gib at April 16, 2004 at 07:30 AMWow, I'm sure many of us hope we could summon up similar cojones in a situation like that. What a man of awesome courage and spirit. I don’t know which is worse – the repugnant psychopaths who murdered him for show, or the dissembling slime balls at Jazeera who would televise any amount of graphic gore if it served their political interests. Can you imagine them not showing it if they had a video of American soldiers executing some terrorist?
Posted by: JohnPV at April 16, 2004 at 07:36 AMI agree. Fabrizio probably displayed a pair of big brass ones at the time of his execution and the pigfuckers don't want to demoralize the faithful by showing it. Somehow I doubt any of the responsible parties will survive long enough to stand trial. Just a hunch.
Posted by: Harry at April 16, 2004 at 10:34 AMIf Al Jazeera won't show the footage, RAI should do so without delay, and it will subsequently get picked up by everyone else. The whole world must see what evil pricks these arseholes are.
As for Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, it's time for the CIA to start getting dirty.
Posted by: steve at April 16, 2004 at 01:49 PMA brave hero shows pond scum in its true light. May his words live forever. I'm sure they will.
Do not go gently into that good night,
but rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And forget the 72 virgins, evil twisted scum killers. Fucking is for earth, you stupid losers.
Quattrocchi's in heaven and his soul will live forever.
I concur with the general sentiment here... Hail Italy, which can still produce such men.
Posted by: Flackbait at April 16, 2004 at 03:30 PMForza Fabrizio.
I hope that the Republicans. Laborites & Democrats honour his courageous efforts by finishing the job of building some form of civic government in Iraq.
Hell, I'm trying to get used to the term "Italian defiance" myself...
Posted by: Kim du Toit at April 16, 2004 at 07:09 PMWhar a difference between this valiant Italian hostage and some Spanish capitulating after the bombings of Madrid.
RIP Frabrizio
Posted by: Anonymous at April 16, 2004 at 09:56 PMForza Italia! I can understand that Italians must feel sad and proud at the same time. With his stand, Fabrizio didn't die the moment those bastards pulled the trigger. Aren't we talking about him today? I wish I had 1% of the courage he showed at the moment of truth. RIP Frabrizio
Posted by: Jaime Marques at April 17, 2004 at 01:43 AMRemember the Alamo? Well, the new movie is a joke... we need a new battle cry...
Remember Fabrizio Quattrocchi!!!!!!!
Let's go get those cowards and let Fabrizio's family get the closure they deserve.
Posted by: jtb at April 17, 2004 at 03:22 AMSo is there any way to see this video to proove this?
I will drink a shot of espresso to this man, many if need be. And I'll do it standing up, with lots of sugar. To a modern Bragadin.
Posted by: Chris at April 17, 2004 at 09:56 AMMay the soul of this brave man, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, be received in Paradise among the martyrs, and may he have eternal peace.
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