Massive security operation for controversial Bush visit to Rome

ROME (AFP) - Italian officials outlined a huge security operation for an upcoming visit to Rome by US President George W. Bush (news - web sites), while a right-wing former premier said that the trip "could have been given a miss" on account of both the situation in Iraq (news - web sites) and domestic political concerns.


Rome officials said some 10,000 police would be deployed for Bush's stay on June 4 and 5, scheduled to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the city from the Germans during World War II.


They also said they were negotiating routes for several demonstrations being called against the Bush visit, notably to protest the US invasion of Iraq.


Meanwhile Guilio Andreotti, a former Christian Democrat premier, told the state-owned Rai3 radio station that the Bush visit could have been avoided, given that it was coming both at a crucial juncture in Iraq, and at a time when Italy was preparing for elections, in early June.

more

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=afp/italy_us_bush

....definitely not Marcus Aurelius. He reminds me more of Commodous (at the least Commodous in "Gladiator").

who do you think pays for all this? I bet the Italians are on the hook for it.

That Wesley Clark won't have to play the role of Maximus after Commodus cancels the election in November.

Good luck I say.

Like some sicko Star Trek time traveling episode.

He will want the comparison to how he "Liberated" Iraq.

Sicily, the brutal mountains of the Imalfi Coast. He was wounded near Positano. Recovered in a tent hospital, only to be captured by the Germans. Escaped during a P-51 strafing run of the POW column and returned to his unit. Worked his way up, that brutal winter, with his 105 battery. He fought his way into Germany, and was - indeed - one of the first to enter Dachau, near Munchen.

I keep wondering what the WWII vets think of this war...very little has been said on this, if anything....

I think personally its shameful for Bush to be there or at the dedication of the memorial...

and what has become of the country he fought for. :(

Good Lord. That's amazing. I wish your father was here today to comment on current events. I recall that you served as well. Vietnam, right? Jeez, you must have stories to tell. Hope you're doing well.

He was with the RAF supporting the British 8th Army - North Africa then Italy.
One of my uncles was a dispatch rider in the Middle East and Italy.
My dad died a while ago but my uncle is very much against this war ...
not a pacifist but very much of the view that wars should only be fought
in defence, not as a way of building an empire.

I'm sure the Holy Father would like to give the pResident an earful and a 'licking that keeps on ticking'.

:spank:

we won't read what the Pope said to Bush and we won't see the signs carried by mainstream Catholic organizations protesting Bush (Italy is 90% against the war) and we won't hear anything about Catholic hierarchy in Italy condemning Bush.

This should be wonderful.

Or more! :)

A part of the protesters in Italy (nammed Black Block) are ultra violent rioters and the italian anti-riot units are very, very brutal and sadistic (well known as higly inflitrated by neo-fascists). I trully hope nobody will die this time unlike during G8 summit in Genova...(Carlo Giuliani)


Many informations here, not totaly neutral anyway, and some in german sorry and spanish.

http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/genova/reports.htm

ass home because they don't want to be targets of terrorists attacks.

Carlo Giuliani, shot point blank in the forehead and cheek.





http://utenti.lycos.it/moroso/giuliani.htm

Not too much was mentioned here about that event. I imagine it was important to promote an image of _Bush as a very popular world leader. It's getting harder and harder to sustain.

It seems a bit odd to celebrate the liberation of the city from one
dictator by inviting his modern counterpart?

Hope that the Italians remember to display pictures of Mussolini's
death as a gentle reminder of what happens when the people *really*
get pissed off with their leader ... Hey Georgie! Any lamp-posts
near the pig-farm in Crawford?

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=519531§ion=news

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush will be greeted by widespread protests on his official visit to Italy next week, opponents of the war in Iraq said as the government warned of violence from radical elements.

"There are some serious threats. We are concerned by them but not frightened," said Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu, who promised to allow peaceful protests when Bush visits next Friday to mark 60 years since the liberation of Rome in World War Two.

While mainstream opposition leaders are planning to demonstrate peacefully or stay away, some activists have promised violent confrontation.

"If a criminal of the calibre of Bush is given the red carpet treatment, then rage is the right reaction," said Luca Casarini, one of Italy's best-known anti-globalisation figures.

"Confronted by a heavily defended Rome that is looking to protect that terrorist Bush, the only thing to do is break the rules," he told La Stampa newspaper.

...more...

citing security concerns. If one would, it would be another tipping point and I bet there would be a flurry of refusals.

Pressure grows to cancel Bush visit
http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=86161320&p=86y6y9xx&n=86161929

Protest against Bush visit targets City Hall
http://www.limerickpost.ie/dailynews.elive?id=5177&category=Daily-Wed

Official refers to public order concerns, not possible terror attack
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:21 a.m. ET May 28, 2004

ROME - Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu warned Friday of looming "grave threats" in demonstrations during the visit to Rome of U.S. President Bush next week.

Pisanu did not say the president himself was threatened. He was referring to a threat to public order and not to any possible terror attack, an Interior Ministry official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Bush will be in Italy June 4-5; on June 2, Italy marks Republic Day. Both occasions are expected to draw thousands of demonstrators protesting both the war in Iraq and the occupation, as well as the Italian government's staunch support for the U.S. administration.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5084579/

Opus Dei with arms stretched wide to greet Satan?

Tell the Italians they're paying for this?

him from attending? :shrug:

<snip>
"If a criminal of the calibre of Bush is given the red carpet treatment, then rage is the right reaction," said Luca Casarini, one of Italy's best-known anti-globalisation figures.

"Confronted by a heavily defended Rome that is looking to protect that terrorist Bush, the only thing to do is break the rules," he told La Stampa newspaper.
<snip>


BANG! They better keep him under lock and key poor infamous little man.

because they don't want to suffer the consequences of refusing his chimpiness a visit.

it would be nice to see a demonstration large enough to at least scare the shit out of him. and if the italian riot police like to bust heads, then the greater the numbers that turn out the greater the likelihood that some riot police get their own heads busted.