Posted on 02/21/2007 11:10:08 AM PST by Eurotwit
ITALY'S government, divided over the Afghan war and its US military ties, lost a crucial parliamentary vote over foreign policy overnight prompting the opposition to call on Prime Minister Romano Prodi to quit. There was no constitutional requirement for Mr Prodi to step down, but Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had said before the vote that the centre-left government should resign if it did not command majority support on foreign policy.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Ah, Italy :-)
Another day, another collapse of the Italian govt. Yawn...actually this is bad because Prodi's govt fell due to Prodi supporting the war in Afghanistan and expansion of a US base in northern Italy.
remeber what Litvinenko on his deathbed said about Prodi;
he is the (KGB/FSP) russian's chief man in italy
you saw at all the protests on the news last week about the airbase expansion all the communist flags!!
I hope they get a good looking female porn star this time as PM.
Re Berlusconi, Forza is definitely positioning themselves; From another story on Prodi's resignation in the Financial Times:
“The government is completely at sea on foreign and defence policy,” said Salvatore Cicu, a legislator in the Forza Italia party of Silvio Berlusconi, the former premier.
He said that with the vote, the government “has lost all credibility at international level”.
How did the Romans turn into the Italians....
Naaa....don't believe that for a minute dude....think of Demcoratic hijinks in elections...that was what the last Italian election was all about...my Italian neighbors expected Prodi to only last about six months....
Sorry, was away for a bit watching the football. Go Liverpool :-)
Anyhow, news.com.au must now be excepted. In fact the freerepublic software gives you no choice on the matter even if you should decide to try to override the rules.
That said, I did not now that Berlusconi's coalition wants a foreign policy more hostile to the U.S. and the war on terror.
Do you have a link?
Cheers.
Europe-list
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
Oh, what a pity ;-)
Hey,this is Italian politics. The opposition will always oppose the government. Law of nature.
:-)
That is kinda what I figured as well :-)
After posting the following to the wrong thread, here's a retry.
Yes. There's the link in my last post to comment containing the full article, and here are a few more on other recent but related issues.
I warned Bush about Iraq: Italy's PM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512263/posts
Berlusconi protests over CIA ‘kidnap'
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1434969/posts
Freed Italians eye return to Iraq [Italy paid a ransom!]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1231061/posts
IRAN: ITALY MUST RELY ON TEHRAN TO BOOST ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST, DIPLOMAT ["Main trading partner."]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690564/posts
My intent is to inform. If more Americans know the extents of anti-American and anti-defense sentiments in various parts of western Europe, more of us will try to inform Europeans against the European mainstream media tide (which is even worse than our own). When we don't know the facts about anti-American sentiment, we tend to allow false information to have exclusive reign in western Europe. Many in the USA emphasize the various "old country" identities of their ancestors. Paradoxically, that's a mistake on our part, as much as we love our allies. From emphasis in a more American identity, maybe we can help more instead of indulging in fantasies and complacency.
Most of my US ancestors, BTW, were of British descent.
I think Berlusconi was trying to pander to some of the war critics with most of the linked comments you supplied, the bulk of which were made before the Italian elections.
Not a good thing off course.
Both the fact that he did choose to pander, and the fact that the political climate in Italy made him feel it was a worthwile strategy.
As for Americans being informed about anti-US sentiment in Europe, I am not sure what the status is. My impression from here on freerepublic is that there is a lot of black/white thinking going on. I.e. France is 100 evil and hates us. Poland is a superstar. Denmark rules. Germany is evil. etc etc.
In reality I think the picture is a lot more varied. However, in just about all countries you are correct that there is a disheartening level of anti-americanism. Some of it is pure commie (and increasingly islamist) hate, but also quite a lot of it is probably more on par with the leftwing of the U.S. Democratic party.
At the same time you have a lot of friends. I would estimate roughly that in my country of Norway you probably have something like a 30/70 percent split with the good guys being outnumbered. In a country like Greece the statistic is probably worse, in Poland it would look better. The situation has also in my estimation been further polarised after 911.
How to rectify this?
Personally I think it mostly up to the natives in Europe to do it themselves. As you are aware, the media and cultural establishment are almost universally singing from the anti-american hymn sheet.
There are signs that the internet is making some difference. European blogs is playing a part, but also that the internet gives access to American media directly. People in Norway are reading columns by Friedman in NY Times, and whatever FReepers think of him, it is an enourmous improvement compared to to the usual fare in Norwegian papers.
What I suggest FReepers do if a friendly Euro wanders by, is to try to stop the kneejerk hostility and Euro-hatred that unfortunately is displayed by a few. I guess the goal is to increase the percentage who supports the U.S., not chase those people away.
And, other than that, just keeping on doing what is right, no matter what the moonbats in Europe thinks.
The bulk of work needs to be done internally in Europe anyhow, and I try to my bit in every political discussion I have.
Which happens quite often. I should probably stop discussing
UN resolution 242 on the first date, and get another hobby instead :-)
Cheers.
On a serious note, Silvio wanted to make meaningful changes in Italia's political system. He wanted to forge a two party system because he felt it would provide a electoral bedrock of stability. He wanted to move Italy away from the multiple party chaos that he and many Italians blamed for the 60 governments or so in the 60 year postwar political history. He is to be lauded for wanted to reform the system, and allow for greater political stability.
What's that supposed to mean? They're basically the same people. Political chaos has always been a constant in Italian life, in the ancient, medieval, and modern world. Yet the country continues to somehow function, much to the bewilderment of outsiders.
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