NYT/IHT: Italians Fear They'll Face Next Attack by Terrorists

[DeepModem Mom]

Italians Fear They'll Face Next Attack by Terrorists
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL,
International Herald Tribune
Published: July 9, 2005


ROME, July 8 - As officials across Europe scrambled to increase security on Friday in the wake of the London bombings, the tension was clearly greatest here in Italy, a country many specialists regard as the next terrorism target.

On Thursday night and Friday, leaders of Italy's Parliament, Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, Secret Service and military met nearly round the clock, "evaluating the terrorist menace in Italy and strengthening preventive security measures," the Interior Ministry said.

The pace of the meetings was a tacit acknowledgment of what most of the Italian news media highlighted Friday, in the words of the daily Il Messaggero, "Now an attack in our house is more likely than ever."

The reasons are simple: Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has been one of the United States' staunchest allies in Iraq, committing thousands of troops, despite widespread popular opposition. Also, Mr. Berlusconi faces a difficult re-election campaign in the coming months. It is the same sort of situation that preceded the March 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191.

"Obviously we are a target because we are engaged in Iraq and we have elections in the next year," said Francesco Sidoti, a security specialist at the University of L'Aquila. "Everyone is thinking about that."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/09/international/europe/09italy.html

[acmavm]

1. If Berlusconi hadn't committed troops to aid a criminal and an idiot

kill innocent civilians for reasons based on delusions of grandeur and greed, then Italy wouldn't have anything to worry about would they?

[leesa]

2. No. You are a target because you just announced plans for a withdrawal

The Neocons are the terrorists, and THEY would benefit from an attack on those abandoning their effort for world control.
If you were to be attacked for your involvement in Iraq, why would it (and the UK) come AFTER you announce plans for withdrawal?

[WhiteTara]

9. Oh, you little cynic you!

Very pointed.
:yourock:

[DemExpat]

3. Dutch news today also: "Are we next?"

DemEx

[Straight Shooter]

4. Any connection to the attacks and where the power outages occurred?

So much has happened, can't keep my dates straight. Remember when the power went out in the U.S., then in London and Italy? (I don't think it happened in Australia.)

I'm just wondering if there is a correlation between the location of the attacks and the area affected by the power outage, if maybe Italy needs to examine this. :shrug:

[lynne]

5. Looks like Italy is going pro-active -

- based on this article:

142 held in anti-terror sweep

Police arrested 142 people in a two-day anti-terrorism security sweep around Milan prompted by the London bombings.

Some 2,000 carabinieri paramilitary police fanned out across the Lombardy region, stepping up patrols around train stations, subways, commercial centres and other sensitive sites, said the regional commander of the carabinieri, Gen. Antonio Girone.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=765192005

[Auntie Bush]

6. I remember someone (?) saying they received a tape from the terrorists

saying that London was bombed because they were partners with the US government and that ITALY was next...then another State with a name I didn't recognize or understand. So...Yes, I suspect Italy will be next! So it's predictable that we can add the USA to that list! They are going to get us "big time" (as Cheney would say) as we are the instigators of all the violence and destruction in the ME. :scared:

Bush be damned forever!

[bemildred]

7. Rome would be my guess. nt

[oneold1-4u]

8. On the one hand--

I am a democrat and a bit liberal but can't agree with hate and name calling that seems to be the common thread here.
The terrorist is always using doubt, fear, and division as their greatest weapon against all.
I do not want any terrorist near me or mine even if they are a democrat! Don't let them put the face of terrorist on such a great group of intelligent people.

[NNN0LHI]

10. Better to fight them in Italy than over here as the Chimp would say n/t