Crowds gather for anti-US march (Italy).

BBC ^ | Saturday, February 17, 2007

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Special trains and buses brought in protesters from across Italy

Thousands of people have been arriving in the north-eastern Italian city of Vicenza for a march against a planned extension of the US army base there.

Organisers say the majority of local people are opposed to US plans. They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored strong local objections.

Thousands of extra police are on duty in Vicenza for what is planned as a peaceful march.

There are fears that extremist fringe groups will try to cause violence.

Vicenza's mayor fears the march will be infiltrated by left-wing extremists from other EU states intent on causing violence - as happened in Genoa six years ago, when rioting during a G8 summit caused heavy damage, one death and many injuries.

Mask ban

Special trains and buses from various parts of Italy have been arriving since dawn in Vicenza for the protest march, says the BBC's David Willey in the city.

Schools and shops are closed and thousands of extra police are on duty.

Families in carnival costume plan to join the march. But they have been banned from wearing carnival masks.

The Americans established a military presence in Vicenza more than half a century ago.

President George W Bush wants to beef up the base, the headquarters of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, by transferring from Germany to Italy another 2,000 US soldiers.

This would bring the total number of US troops stationed in Vicenza to nearly 5,000.

The base provides over 1,000 jobs to locals in Vicenza and injects millions of dollars into the local economy.

A withdrawal would have serious local economic consequences.

Our correspondent says the centre-left government in Rome is embarrassingly split between those who want to respect the decision of the previous centre-right coalition to agree to Washington's request, and those who would like to see the Americans out.

[ShawTaylor]

Another anti-Americans rally, from yet another bunch of Euro-crazies, being reported gleefully by the perpetually anti-American BBC.
So what's new?
A great big YAAWWWN.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The BBC is sometimes anti-American, but not perpetually. Sometimes, they have articles that are decidedly pro-American; other times, they have articles that are strongly anti-American. It depends on the writer. The viewership does seem to be anti-American, though. This is currently the most popular (viewed) article on the site. This article seems to be neutral.

[corkoman]

I was in Vincenza 3 weeks ago. This is a major expansion of the base and there is resentment for the impact on the town. Increased auto traffic is one thing that is not balanced by the eventual business that a military complex brings to the locals.

But why are we expanding military bases in Europe? Why should we be there at all? Our military presence allows the europeans to gut their own defense budgets leaving the US taxpayer the responsibility for euro defenses.

Using the same logic as for the Iraqi govt, the euro govts should be put on notice that we are leaving. and to prepare for eventuality that they are vulnerable to even a small military adversary.

I am weary of these anti-american rants that have some basis in reasonability.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Europe should start picking up more for its own defense. Italy, however, is relatively close to southwestern Asia, the Middle East, and is an old "ally" that is stable. That could be why there's an expansion (Turkey with its Muslims and Greece with its anti-Americans could lead to attacks). Israel is not a viable option. Kuwait also has Muslims. And Iraq itself is violent.

[AIM-54]

I honestly do not know why we continue to keep troops in Western Europe. Just what are we defending over there, anyways? The European's right to resent us? It's difficult to work up any enthusiasm for that.

I don't see why we don't evacuate western Europe. The EU is proving itself to be much more foe than friend. I'll have to attribute our continued defense of Europe to the momentum and amorality of huge bureaucracies.