Posted on 05/25/2004 9:49:21 AM PDT by ride the whirlwind
ROME (Reuters) - Hooded pacifists said Tuesday they plan to disrupt President Bush (news - web sites)'s visit to Italy next week by blocking roads and attempting to break through barriers erected to protect his entourage.
Bush is set to attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of Rome's liberation by the Allies on June 4 but many see his visit as a opportunity to express their opposition to the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq (news - web sites), which the Italian government has supported.
"Starting in the morning we will attempt to penetrate the security zone," said the two protestors, who claimed at a news conference to represent an assembly of movements based in Rome against the deployment of Italian troops in Iraq.
"Each part of the movement will be free to act in the way it sees fit," they said.
The activists wore hoods both to hide their identities and as a protest against the abuse inflicted by American soldiers on inmates, often hooded, of the notorious Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
The prison abuse scandal has inflamed the Arab world and embarrassed the United States in the run-up to what Washington says will be a transfer of sovereignty on June 30 to an interim Iraqi government and more distantly the U.S. presidential elections in November.
Italy has some 2,700 troops stationed in Iraq, the third largest foreign presence after U.S. and British forces.
Conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has rejected mounting opposition calls to withdraw troops from Iraq, saying they would stay until democracy has taken hold.
During Bush's visit there will be a public procession in the afternoon to demonstrate against the presence of troops in Iraq but the militants said they plan other more "radical anti-establishment" demonstrations.
The activists said there were plans afoot for road blocks to hamper Bush's route between scheduled meetings with Berlusconi, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II.
Security measures to ensure Bush's safety will remain secret, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu has said. Pisanu said people had the right to demonstrate peacefully during the state visit.
Pacifists?!
And by the afternoon they will be under arrest for trying this lame brain stunt.
Ironic isn't it? Where were they when Nick Berg was led to the slaughter?
Well, I'm sure relieved to hear that!
But wouldn't that be........aggressive?
Obviously these dunderheads are not familiar iwth Rome traffice. Anyone blocking roads will be promptly run over.
And the Carbinieri will just love it when they try to break through barriers. Hooded head bashing good time!
"Hooded" = "Cowards"
Works for me.
Pacifists or Communists?
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