Jake1

Mon Aug 4, 3:43 AM ET
ROME - The Defense Ministry says hundreds of soldiers have been deployed in cities across Italy as part of government measures to fight street crime.

In Rome, some 400 men and women are deployed at subway and railway stations and at an immigrant center. They are not expected to be immediately deployed in the capital's historic center.
In Milan, they are patrolling the Duomo cathedral and sensitive sites such as the U.S. consulate and the synagogue.
Lt. Col. Mario Busi says the deployment of soldiers — 3,000 in total — began Monday and will continue through the week.

caroline_edinburgh

I have never felt unsafe in Italy.

Steve_James

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7540585.stm

irishface

I'm with Caroline, on my only trip (so far) to Italy I never for one minute felt unsafe. Sorry Italy felt this step necessary.

Jake1

caroline--it depends on where you go and what you're doing. Much as many other places in the world.

zeppole

Depends on your point of view. Many people inside and out of Italy feel far less with showcase fascism in a country with pockets of sentimental feelings for Mussolini.

The fact that the deployment is for one week -- one week! -- indicates the level of the problem and the lack of seriousness in the Berlusconi government about doing anything concrete to solve the country's genuine problems. The corrupted system works for them, and they'd rather scapegoat as a distraction.

Steve_James

1 week? I thought it was initially for 6 months, Zeppole

Steve

zeppole

Sorry, you're right.

Perhaps in some people's minds, six months defeats my point, but I'll stand by it.

This is fascist grandstanding and scapegoating to distract from Berlusconi's determination not to reform Italy's corrupt economic system. The criminals are not at the Duomo. They're running the government.

Waldo

Hey Zeppole!- I don't know if you've ever read it, but Benjamin Franklin once said, "the people get the government they deserve".

traveller1959

Waldo, now you are very tough on the Americans!

zeppole

I think Benjamin Franklin was wrong on that, actually. Even in America.

Berlusconi owns most of the media in Italia, and there's other reasons why the kind opposition to his kind of politics has never matured in Italia. I don't hold the Italian citizenry entirely blameless, anymore than I hold Americas entirely blameless for things like Abu Ghraib (especially after they found out at least pieces of it), but bad people have way of defeating good people. Lincoln was right when he said you can fool all the people some of the time -- and that was before RAI.

nytraveler

No - I agree with Ben - people do get the government they deserve.

We ended up with W - because so many people bought his obfuscation of the issues - since it's simpler to dislike others that are different - than to actually think about and deal with real problems.

If the same thing happens again I may give up.

tower

Zeppole:


I find that you appear to be very well-informed on Italian poltitics
and internal travel.
I'm just curious...do you reside in Italy, work in Italy, or what? If so, what city?
Thank you.


stu t.

caroline_edinburgh

I agree with Zeppole.

Jake, in 18 trips to Italy I've spent time in lots of places, including a week in central Naples and a week in Palermo (always using public transport or walking) - and never felt unsafe.

Dukey

I suspect everyone who has never BEEN the victim of any crime always feels "safe" until it actually happens.

caroline_edinburgh

I have been a victim of crime, as it happens, in several different countries.

And I have felt unsafe in other places, including Edinburgh. But not Italy.

Jake1

caroline--I'm really glad you've never felt unsafe in Italy.

FrankS

Ive felt unsafe in Naples, but not Rome. I think there are unsafe places in Rome, just like many large urban centers that I avoided. However, this is a drastic step indicating that there was a need to act by the Italians.
I feel as Europe slips into economic weakness, there wll be problems in Spain , Italy and maybe even France and England. The job of those counries will be to insulate the problems. Actions like this will happen more often.

Cowboy1968

Personally, I do not "feel safer" in a city which has soldiers in BDUs patrolling the streets. If I did, I would go to Bagdad on vacation.

FrankS

Cowboy,
Last year in Paris we were at the Sofitel next to the US consulate, my whole street was guarded(maybe 10 French soldiers) and it felt fine. However, if troops were all over the city Im sure it would have felt like a riot was building.