Italy's PM In Vatican Air Terror Mystery

Terrorists planned to use a hijacked jet for a Christmas Day attack on the Vatican, Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, was quoted as saying in an interview published yesterday. 'We had precise information about an attack from the sky on Rome with the Vatican as the objective,' Berlusconi reportedly told the Milan daily, Libero. But his office denied he had given an interview and Berlusconi himself hinted the quotes had been invented by the reporter.

'You can't confuse a rapid exchange of Christmas wishes with a political declaration,' the Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Unfortunately for Berlusconi, the right-wing newspaper, which supports his government, had turned the Christmas wishes into a huge three-page interview under a front-page headline, 'Christmas night with Berlusconi.'

The indiscretions, which have embarrassed his allies and infuriated the opposition, are reminiscent of a politically incorrect interview with the Spectator magazine last summer, which Berlusconi attributed to a glass too many of champagne.

'What a terrible day this has been,' he is quoted as telling Libero in the Christmas Eve interview. 'The papers don't come out tomorrow, right? Then I can tell you that the real question is not the television decree [which preserved the right of one of Berlusconi's channels to continue terrestrial broadcasting]... but precise and verified information about an attack on Rome on Christmas Day. A hijacked plane on the Vatican - an attack from the sky, you understand?

'The threat of terrorism is very high at the moment. I spent Christmas Eve in Rome dealing with the situation. Now I feel more tranquil.'

Yet the gist of Berlusconi's revelation appeared to be confirmed yesterday by the mayor of Rome. 'Many of us spent the afternoon of 24 December working, but without feeling the need to reveal things it had been agreed should remain confidential, precisely to avoid spreading alarm,' Walter Veltroni said.

There were other confidences that Berlusconi may have wanted to disown. In the interview with Libero's political commentator Renato Farina he complained of press accusations that he had used his political power to protect his personal interests.

The former Christian Democrat President, Francesco Cossiga, had advised him to retaliate by sending the finance police to investigate his opponents: 'Learn to use the legitimate weapons of power.'

Berlusconi is said to have replied: 'But I'm a liberal Prime Minister. I operate on the basis of consensus and follow transparent paths.'

Dear Mr. Trytophan:

Perusing your recent posts, I recommend Valium and Xanax. Trytophan is clearly not working for you.

"Trytophan is used to help stabilize mood, as a sleep aid, and by some ecstasy and psychedelic users because they are reputed to both increase the effects of substances as well as easing the comedown and helping stabilize mood the day after."

Reference: http://www.erowid.org/smarts/tryptophan/tryptophan_basics.shtml

Reference: Trytophan Man, Since Nov 28, 2003

How about something like this:

Most beloved brethren: Urged by necessity, I, Urban, by the permission of God chief bishop and prelate over the whole world, have come into these parts as an ambassador with a divine admonition to you, the servants of God. Although, O sons of God, you have promised more firmly than ever to keep the peace among yourselves and to preserve the rights of the church, there remains still an important work for you to do. Freshly quickened by the divine correction, you must apply the strength of your righteousness to another matter which concerns you as well as God.

For your brethren who live in the east are in urgent need of your help, and you must hasten to give them the aid which has often been promised them. For, as the most of you have heard, the Turks and Arabs have attacked them and have conquered the territory of Romania as far west as the shore of the Mediterranean and the Hellespont, which is called the Arm of St. George.

They have occupied more and more of the lands of those Christians, and have overcome them in seven battles. They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire. On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends. I say this to those who are present, it meant also for those who are absent. Moreover, Christ commands it. Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now
go against the infidels and end with victory this war which should have been begun long ago.Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, now become knights.Let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight in a proper way against the barbarians. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries for small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a double honor.

Behold! on this side will be the sorrowful and poor, on that, the rich; on this side, the enemies of the Lord, on that, his friends. Let those who go not put off the journey, but rent their lands and collect money for their expenses; and as soon as winter is over and spring comes, let hem eagerly set out on the way with God as their guide.

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