Posted on 11/17/2003 2:00:53 PM PST by areafiftyone
A group of Italian anti-war militants is raising funds to support the armed Iraqi resistance, the BBC has learned.
The discovery comes as Italy mourns 19 men killed in a suicide attack in Iraq last week.
The "Antiimperialista" organisation's internet campaign asks people to send "10 Euros to the Iraqi resistance".
Nineteen Italians were killed in last week's suicide attack in Nasiriya
They say they have collected 12,000 euros ($14,165) in the past eight weeks and admit the money used could be used to buy weapons.
The Antiimperialistas are a group of European anti-war and anti-globalisation supporters.
They are currently organising an anti-war demonstration in Italy next month, and it remains to be seen whether news of the fund-raising activities will deter more moderate anti-war activists from attending.
The organisation's Italian branch says the money will be given to an Iraqi resistance group known as the Iraqi Patriotic Opposition.
Independent Iraqi sources in London say the leaders of this group have a long history of association with the Baath party and are now back in Iraq supporting the armed resistance.
To think there are people in Italy collecting money in order to kill our heroes is really a shame
The Italian spokesman of the antiimperialistas, Moreno Pasquinelli, says the money collected so far is in an Italian bank account.
Mr Pasquinelli said it would be taken to Iraq in January. He was candid when asked about raising money for the Iraqi Patriotic Opposition which says it actively supports military resistance.
"Its not our affair how they use this money. If they want to use it to print papers for example, or to buy weapons in order to fight for the Iraqi independence," he said.
"We support the armed struggle in Iraq. our money is to help them, it doesn't matter to us if they use it buy weapons, Kalashnikovs, or medicines for people."
When asked to confirm if the money raised could be used to buy weapons he admitted: "Yes they could, and why not?"
Shame
The Italian Interior Ministry refused to comment, saying the matter was with the security services.
The campaign contrasts with the mood of mourning in Italy Lucio Malan, a senator from the governing Forza Italia Party, was shocked to hear about the campaign.
"The first word that comes to my mind is shame and horror," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.
"They are raising money against people (Italian troops) who are defending the peace, the security of the people of that country. They have not killed or wounded anyone in that country they are helping to take away unexploded bombs."
He said the group's activities "collecting money to give it outspokenly to terrorist groups" was certainly illegal in Italy.
Yea, that will do it - but you spelled it wrong - wop - without papers. Also thanks for insulting Americans of Italian heritage that served this country in war.
A.N.S.W.E.R. liberals. They started out as "Share Americas wealth" Clinton defenders during impeachment. This isn't about anti-war. It's political. The more people they can get killed, the better the Democrat of their choice (Clinton) looks come election time.
Italian soldiers are fighting with us. They're paying to get even more of their own killed. It's political.
The Muslims may come after them next. If they aren't bowing down to Allah, they're on the list. Will they ask for our help then?
That's it. The left has become a terrorist group themselves just because they lost one election. Is that totally insane, or what?.
I seem to recall one of the Caribinieri doing quite okay nailing one attacker with a single shot from his Beretta when attacked by one of the masked rioters during the G8 conference- then backing over the creep on their way out, a nice touch. Here's hoping they turn those fellas loose on this bunch as well.
[And that the other people bring a fire extinguisher to a gunfight."]
I hope the perp had his "rioters insurance" paid up!
Mad at all Italians? Oh no; we know better than that. And I'll guarantee you that those with the hardest hearts against those betraying their own countrymen can be found up around the still-Italian neighborhoods of Chicago and Milwaukee.
And that's likely also where you'd have heard the tears for the 19.
Italian Carabinieri carry the Italian flag-draped coffin of one of the slain Italian soldiers toward the Unknown Soldier Monument, in Rome, Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, where a funeral chamber will be set up Monday Nov. 17, for the 19 Italians killed in a car-bomb attack in Nasiriyah, southern Iraq
(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italian Carabinieri carry a coffin of one the 19 Italian soldiers killed in Iraq as they arrive at Rome's tomb of the unknown soldier where they will lie in state all day for Italians to pay their respects November 17, 2003. A state funeral will be held in St Paul's Outside-the-Walls church on Tuesday.
REUTERS/Max Rossi
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi touches the coffin of Pietro Petrucci, one of the 19 Italians killed in Iraq (news - web sites), upon his arrival at Rome's Ciampino Military Airport, Monday, Nov. 17, 2003.
(AP Photo/Enrico Oliverio/Ufficio Stampa della Presidenza della Repubblica)
A man shows the Italian and the US flag with a palcard reading ' Honor to the martyrs of freedom' as he walks in front of Rome's Vittoriano monument where the coffins of the 19 Italians killed in Iraq (news - web sites) are laid inside, Monday, Nov. 17, 2003. Thousands of mourners, from Italy's president to ordinary citizens, paid their respects to the victims of Italy's worst military disaster since World War II.
(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
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