Berlusconi: certainly not a master of subtle WTF

[Cain]

I'm having to rely on a blog run by someone who can translate Italian.

http://mymarilyn.blogspot.com/2009/06/italian-government-to-legalise.html

But just read it.

The Italian government has just issued a White paper on law and order that gives the go-ahead to private vigilante groups. While the paper states that such groups will have to sign up to a licensing scheme, it's interesting to take a peek at those who are enthusiastically jumping at the opportunity.


Enter the Guardia Nazionale Italiana, whose website is currently recruiting "true Italian Nationalists and Patriots, people who are able to wear their uniform with pride and dignity, and for everything that it represents, are able to serve our land and the Italian people".

You may be excused if it rings familiar: black trousers with yellow band, black hat donning the Imperial Eagle of the Holy Roman Empire, khaki shirt carrying both Italian flag and a certain symbol (a black sun that is popular amongst German neo-nazis), black armband, black tie and black boots.

Yet any allegation that it may echo a certain period in history are dismissed as 'nonsense'."It's a legitimate way of combating crime", says Home Secretary Roberto Maroni. So why the garish outfits?

The answer comes the moment you take a peek at the people behind the vigilantes. Amidst retired carabinieri and assorted military, there he is, the founding member of the far-right Social Movement (MSI-DN, the group that rose from the ashes of the Fascist Party following Mussolini's death in 1945) and leader of the Italian Nationalist Party, both groups possibly to the right of the BNP.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

 

It's like our superhero phenomena, but somehow even more scary!

[Cain]

They're not even trying to hide it, now.  Resurrecting the Blackshirts is pretty much confirmation that everyone who doubted my belief about Italy sliding into Fascism should STFU forevermore.

The EU doesn't seem interested, of course.  God, at this rate, we'll soon be wishing there was a Soviet Union again, if only to raise International Brigades.

[MMIX]

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it George Santayana [1905] William Shirer quoted this as an epigraph in his literary work The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich [1959] - gotta love the irony there then.


Those who don't give a flying fuck about their past indiscretions are condemned to be [Italian fascisti] / [insert extremist groups/s of your choice here]

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Whoa!

[Elder Iptuous]

that's a helluva thing.
definitely worth watching how that develops.

[fomenter]

something about this reminds me of "The Historical Illuminatus Chronicles" we should place agents in Italy and create competing secret orders/vigilante for hire groups and get convoluted and complicated conspiracies and cooperative efforts going between them.

[Epimetheus]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1193111/Italy-revives-Blackshirt-vigilantes-fears-Fascism-sparks-investigation.html

for pic and more information.
this is interesting!

[Template]

something about this reminds me of "The Historical Illuminatus Chronicles" we should place agents in Italy and create competing secret orders/vigilante for hire groups and get convoluted and complicated conspiracies and cooperative efforts going between them.

I was going to suggest that, but I don't know where we'd get the expendable manpower.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I'm having to rely on a blog run by someone who can translate Italian.

http://mymarilyn.blogspot.com/2009/06/italian-government-to-legalise.html

But just read it.

The Italian government has just issued a White paper on law and order that gives the go-ahead to private vigilante groups. While the paper states that such groups will have to sign up to a licensing scheme, it's interesting to take a peek at those who are enthusiastically jumping at the opportunity.


Enter the Guardia Nazionale Italiana, whose website is currently recruiting "true Italian Nationalists and Patriots, people who are able to wear their uniform with pride and dignity, and for everything that it represents, are able to serve our land and the Italian people".

You may be excused if it rings familiar: black trousers with yellow band, black hat donning the Imperial Eagle of the Holy Roman Empire, khaki shirt carrying both Italian flag and a certain symbol (a black sun that is popular amongst German neo-nazis), black armband, black tie and black boots.

Yet any allegation that it may echo a certain period in history are dismissed as 'nonsense'."It's a legitimate way of combating crime", says Home Secretary Roberto Maroni. So why the garish outfits?

The answer comes the moment you take a peek at the people behind the vigilantes. Amidst retired carabinieri and assorted military, there he is, the founding member of the far-right Social Movement (MSI-DN, the group that rose from the ashes of the Fascist Party following Mussolini's death in 1945) and leader of the Italian Nationalist Party, both groups possibly to the right of the BNP.

Figures.   Wasn't he a member of P2?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

It's like our superhero phenomena, but somehow even more scary!

Your sig. 

[Cain]

Figures.   Wasn't he a member of P2?

Yup.  Another little factoid that seems to escape everyone's attention. 

Naturally, he claims he had no idea about the Lodge's political activities. No idea at all.  Completely oblivious.

[MMIX]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1193111/Italy-revives-Blackshirt-vigilantes-fears-Fascism-sparks-investigation.html

for pic and more information.
this is interesting!

Mail readers . . . gutted that they didn't think of it first

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

It's like our superhero phenomena, but somehow even more scary!

Your sig. 

I thought you'd like it.

[Cain]

More Italian fun:

http://www.bergamonews.it/provincia/articolo.php?id=14521
http://www.ecodibergamo.it/stories/Cronaca/85829_capriate_kebab/

OK, I know most people don't read Italian, but those are the original links, so you can run them through Google Translate or whatever.

Right, anyway, this is what is happening now.  A council ordinance tabled by the Northern League bans all 'ethnic' shops and businesses from Capriate town centre. Most stunning is the motivation offered by the Chair of Trade and Safety at the local council: "This is not a racist decision. The town centre is short of parking space and those businesses would worsen traffic congestion".

The ban is a direct consequence of last June's ruling by the Lombard Regional Assembly (also governed by Berlusconi's coalition) which granted local councils power to shut down businesses that are deemed "incompatible" with the "local context".

"We couldn't just sit down in front of the invasion of kebab shops, internet cafes and Chinese restaurants that are sucking the identity out of our town centres", explained Northern League Assembly Members Daniele Belotti and Giouse' Frosio.