Vicenza, Italy to be the largest US military site in Europe?

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.davidswanson.org/?q=node/807



Anti-U.S. Uproar Sweeps Italy
Submitted by dswanson on Fri, 2007-05-04 19:03. Peace and War
By David Swanson

The U.S. government has proposed to make Vicenza, Italy, the largest US military site in Europe, but the people of Vicenza, and all of Italy, have sworn it will never happen.

As with the story of the Downing Street Minutes two years ago this week, a major news story and huge controversy in Europe right now is unknown to Americans, despite the fact that it is all about the policies of the American government. In February of this year, 200,000 people descended on the Northeastern Italian town of Vicenza (population 100,000) to march in protest. Largely as a result, the Prime Minister of Italy was (temporarily) driven out of power. Meanwhile, just outside Vicenza, large tents now hold newly minted citizen activists keeping a 24-hour-per-day vigil and training hundreds of senior citizens, children, and families every day in how to nonviolently stop bulldozers. The bulldozers they are waiting for are American.

The conflict, should it come about, will be as surprising to American television viewers as were the attacks of 9-11, unless someone tells them ahead of time what is going on. This week a group of Italians is in Washington, D.C., attempting to do just that. A group of Italian Members of Parliament also visited Washington last month in opposition to the base.

To understand this story it is necessary to be aware of a few basic facts that Americans are not supposed to be aware of, including that our military maintains several hundred bases in other people's countries, and that many of the residents of these countries resent the U.S. military presence. (Of course, the alleged planner of the murderous 9-11 attacks said he was reacting to U.S. bases on foreign soil, in that case in Saudi Arabia. The Bush Administration closed the offending bases.)

In addition, it is helpful to understand that Vicenza is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a beautiful treasure of a town showcasing the renaissance architecture of Andrea Palladio. Reflecting on this makes it easier to put into context the proposal for Vicenza from the U.S. military and the reaction of the people who live there.

If you google "No Dal Molin" you'll find 83,300 results. Dal Molin is the name of the proposed new military base. This compares with 9,290 for such an important news story as "John Edwards' hair." But the only U.S. media link you'll find is Democracy Now, which interviewed one of the Italian activists in Washington this week.

[RC]

1. What gives us, U.S. the right to put military bases in foreign countries...

When no foreign country has any military bases in this country? Only fair, one for one.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. To defend us against which bogeyman?

[tabasco]

3. Thanks to Bush for mobilizing everyone against us.

Nobody wants an aggressor nation parked on their soil.

[jbnow]

4. There are a few news articles

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=Vicenza%2C%20Italy%20military%20base&btnG=Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn
but no major news services covering it. Surprise. Almost like war protests here, they decide what they want us to hear about.

Even if they didn't hate our policies I'd be surprised if they would accept increased military there after the US Marine aircraft killed 20 people in a Cavalese ski resort, hitting and severing a lift cable. It was pretty ugly as they seemed to be fooling around and destroyed the tape and ended up with no one being found guilty by the U.S. military courts. (except for destroying the tape)

I hope the Italian's voices are heard. Do governments listen anymore?

[Goat or Panic]

5. My mom

was stationed there from 77-80. The post entrance was wide open and the Italians were very warm and friendly. I loved living there. It depresses me to see how our image has been damaged by Bush.

Best school I ever went to also, field trips to Venice, Florence and Rome, being able to actually study and see all those great works of art. Great people, great food.


sigh.....

[Forkboy]

6. If so I'm off to the recruiters!

Now there's a place to be stationed!

[AZBlue]

7. God, I hope not! I was hoping to move to Italy one day!!

Thank you for posting this - as you stated, it's gotten no press coverage here because it's important and relevant. Only the trivial and stupid gets coverage here. And people wonder why I want to move...