Italy's ex-president admits terror deal

Jerusalem Post ^ | 8/19/2008 | Staff

[mojito]

A former Italian president says his country had allowed Palestinian terror groups to roam free in exchange for not attacking Italian targets.

Francesco Cossiga's admission confirmed claims of such a deal revealed last week in an interview in the Corriere della Sera newspaper with Bassam Abu Sharif, the former chief of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

In a letter published Aug. 15 in Corriere della Sera, Cossiga described a "secret 'non-belligerence pact' between the Italian state and Palestinian resistance organizations, including terrorist groups" such as the PFLP. The deal, he said, had been devised by Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who in 1978 was kidnapped and assassinated by the Italian terror group the Red Brigades.

Nonetheless, there were several major Palestinian terror attacks on Italian targets in the 1970s and 1980s. They included attacks on Rome's airport and main synagogue, and the hijacking of the cruise ship the Achille Lauro cruise ship.

Last month, Cossiga accused the PFLP of being behind a terrorist attack at the Bologna train station in 1980 that killed 85 people. That attack has long been ascribed to Italian neo-fascist terrorists, and two leaders of a neo-fascist extremist group were given life sentences for their role in the attack.

[mojito]

How sophisticated and European.

[GauchoUSA]

We need to keep a wary eye on Italy, they’re known to flip flop like the best of Democrats.

[A CA Guy]

Real lame if true.

[SJSAMPLE]

Wasn’t it Italy that released the Archille Lauro hijackers?

[thackney]

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

Prime Minister Winston Churchill

[mojito]

Yes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25572429/

“ROME - Italian authorities have ordered a Palestinian man expelled after he served his sentence for taking part in the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship, which resulted in the murder of an American citizen.

The 43-year-old Ibrahim Fatayer Abdelatif was freed Monday from a temporary holding center for illegal immigrants in Rome, said his lawyer, Francesco Romeo.”

[fieldmarshaldj]

Ain’t this nice ?

[Ben Reyes]

“How sophisticated and European.”

European = cowardly?

I buy that.

The Philippine government is adopting a minor variation of that model: Muslim autonomy in predominantly Muslim island of Mindanao in exchange for peace and quiet for the Christians living among them.

[alecqss]

Last month, Cossiga accused the PFLP of being behind a terrorist attack at the Bologna train station in 1980 that killed 85 people. That attack has long been ascribed to Italian neo-fascist terrorists, and two leaders of a neo-fascist extremist group were given life sentences for their role in the attack.

So, not only appeasement pact with terrorists, but also a jailing of the not guilty guys in the name of maintaining that appeasement. Nice indeed. To terrorists and to terrorists only.

[Chode]

do I really have to say it???

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

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This comes as a surprise to no one, but it's a plus that they admit it. Perhaps they'll recognize the error of their ways.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Helps to explain why the Bush administration had a relatively small anti-terror coalition.

[Paul Ross]

The deal [with Terrorists], he said, had been devised by Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who in 1978 was kidnapped and assassinated by the Italian terror group the Red Brigades. [Terrorists].

How ironically fitting.

[NY Attitude]

Wanna but a good Italian rifle? It was not fired and only dropped once. sarcasm on.

[Teacher317]

Good for them for being open and honest about it.

I'd bet my monthly salary that Italy isn't the only one.

[Deetes]

BTTT

[LibertyRocks]

BUMP - I wonder if after Beslan the Neo-Soviets did the same thing with the Muslim terrorists? JERKS...

[LibertyRocks]

Thought you would all be interested in reading this article... Italy appeased the Islamic terrorists so they wouldn’t attack them! Will people ever learn???

[happygrl]

The deal, he said, had been devised by Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who in 1978 was kidnapped and assassinated by the Italian terror group the Red Brigades.

Instant Karma's gonna get you.....

[milford421]

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

Prime Minister Winston Churchill

Thanks very much for that....we would be wise to take these words to heart.