re: A former Marine writes on the Calipari/Sgrena checkpoint shootings
These are some good ideas, particularly the flares. I believe this incident was at night, with rain.
There is also evidence to suggest that the Italians didn't handle the situation as well as they could have either. And sure as hell that reporter shouldn't have been taking the chances she did, but she thought since she was fervently anti-war, she was safe.