Dal Molin base expansion opposition pins hopes on Obama

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Dal Molin base expansion opposition pins hopes on Obama
By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, November 17, 2008

Barack Obama’s election as president of the United States has sparked new hope for those opposed to the U.S. Army’s expansion in Vicenza, Italy.

According to Italian media reports, the city’s mayor — elected in April with strong support of those opposed to the U.S. use of the Dal Molin airfield for barracks and office space — congratulated Obama on his victory. Achille Variati was quoted in an online report by Agenzia Stampa Quotidiano Nazionale, a national news agency, as saying that many parts of the world had high hopes for his presidency "even in a small city like ours."

The report said he hoped Obama would follow the example of past American presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and follow the will of the people. The will of the people in this case — according to Variati — is for the U.S. to stop plans to occupy the base.

The city held an unofficial referendum in early September on the issue, ignoring a call from the federal government and the nation’s highest court that such a vote was a waste of time and money. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said the matter is a federal issue and has already been decided.

Three messages seeking further comment left at the mayor’s office last week were not returned.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58862%2e