Silvio Berlusconi told residents of Lampedusa he would clear the island of migrants in '48 to 60 hours'. Photograph: Michele Naccari/EPA
Posted on 04/02/2011 1:04:48 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Embattled Italian PM also offers tax breaks to island's residents as critics accuse him of using diversionary tactics... Silvio Berlusconi has put on a vintage display of showmanship, claiming he would empty the island of immigrants within 60 hours, nominate locals for a Nobel peace prize and buy a holiday home there...
During a lightning visit to Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than the Italian mainland, Berlusconi told cheering locals that six chartered ferries were arriving to pick up the remaining 6,000 migrants, mainly young Tunisian men, who have made the sea crossing since the collapse of the Tunisian government in January and the suspension of coastal patrols.
The migrants will join other north Africans who have already been transferred to centres and camps on the mainland after paying out thousands of euros to make the often perilous crossing...
To frequent applause, Berlusconi told residents he would give them tax breaks and propose they receive the Nobel peace prize for their patience, later telling a press conference he would push for the construction of a casino and a golf course...
The prime minister also said he would use his private TV channels to promote the relaunch of tourism in Lampedusa. While surfing the internet before his visit, he added, he had purchased a beach house on Lampedusa, which he visited before leaving the island...
...as his supporters in parliament worked on a measure trimming the statute of limitations for first-time offenders, a measure they claimed is designed to cancel the prime minister's ongoing trial for bribing British lawyer David Mills... Berlusconi is now seeking to convince Italy's regional governors to put up the migrants brought ashore. Over 3,000 who have already escaped from makeshift camps have travelled to Ventimiglia seeking to cross into France, where many have relatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Silvio Berlusconi told residents of Lampedusa he would clear the island of migrants in '48 to 60 hours'. Photograph: Michele Naccari/EPA
>To frequent applause, Berlusconi told residents he would give them tax breaks and propose they receive the Nobel peace prize for their patience, later telling a press conference he would push for the construction of a casino and a golf course...
LOL
The story sez that a number of these wetbacks have tried to reach France, where they have relatives.
In the spirit of all the unrest, islamic terrorists have taken to the streets of Paris and are shooting anyone who isn't a moslem. Police fear the death toll may be as high as 12.
The Muslims are not being taken back to Tunisia, they are going ashore in Italy.
Since there are no borders in Europe anymore, the Muslims are free now to go anywhere in Infidel Europe and join the undermining of the European cultures.
The template is in place, and the welfare scams will be explained to these newly arriving Muslims. - tom
Berlusconi’s plan to ‘free Lampedusa’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12912615
Berlusconi promises to expel refugees from Lampedusa
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/31/48272800.html
Far-right leader visits Lampedusa
French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says migrants fleeing North Africa by boat should be turned back
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2011
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/03/201131419451264634.html
Carpet bombing?
Anyone know why we have the TSA or Homeland Security or the Patriot Act?
Can anyone tell me how many wars or military actions we are in, against moslem countries?
Can anyone give me one good reason why eliminating every freeking moslem on the planet isn’t the best idea?
Just think of all the bullsh!+ that would disappear without them.
Magic Carpet Bombing.
I like this guy! Like to see that here. Deport all the illegals back across the border! Illegal is illegal damn it,we’ve the right to enforce our laws!!
It doesn’t sound like Berlusconi is talking about deporting them, just moving them from that island to mainland Italy. Sure, that might be welcome news to the island’s legal residents, but the “big picture” still sucks.
“The migrants will join other north Africans who have already been transferred to centres and camps on the mainland”
Why the mainland? Reroute them to Somalia.
Dang, Dude.....read the article.
He is NOT deporting them, he is ferrying them to the mainland, where their benefits can more easily be administered.
He’s moving them off the island, but taking them to mainland Italy. There’s got to be a better way to handle it, but they definitely can’t stay on Lampedusa.
Neither can the next wave of arrivals there, who will be encouraged by what happened to this group.
I like how you think.
Heh heh... but maybe they’re lovers, not fighters.
We all should have looked a little closer at the article; it was satire.
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