<nettime> the italian style

[bifo <lop1912@iperbole.bologna.it>]

September 1 1940. The German troops enter Poland. Irresistible Blitzkrieg. 
Poland is subjugated in three weeks.
In Rome, Benito Mussolini is unhappy. He cannot intervene in the war on the 
side of his friend Adolf Hitler because the Italian army is in decay and 
the cash of the State is empty. Months later the Wehrmacht attacks on the 
western front. In few weeks the French army is smashed and the Hitler's 
tropps occupy Paris. France surrenders. Despite the unwillingness of the 
big majority of the italian population, Mussolini decides that the moment 
has come. He says that he needs some thousand italian corpses to throw on 
the table of the negociations. He thinks that the war is won. On June 10th 
(the day of Italian Shame) he declares war on France, which is already 
defeated.

March 20th, 2003. Ignoring the opposition of the UN, ignoring the peace 
demonstrations of millions and millions of people all over the world, 
Mister Bush launches a deadly attack on Iraq, supported by Tony Blair and 
british troops. Scores of civilians are murdered, the Iraqi army vanishes. 
The war is won.
On May 1, President George Bush II declares "Mission accomplished". 
Democracy triumphs. Halliburton can start its takeover of Iraqi oil resources.
At this moment Silvio Berlusconi, who was champing the bit, decided to send 
italian troops to help the winner (as usual). He thinks that some italian 
death could help him to take part in the negotiations (with Halliburton, of 
course)
After Spain's withdrawal Berlusconi declares that he is proud and happy to 
be the best friend of the Bush administration.

Questions:
1. Was the war over, in June 1940? Not so.
2. Was the mission accomplished on May 1 2003?

Now the pictures of horror show a story quite different from the rethoric 
of esporting democracy with schock and with awe. But the Italian government 
declared some days ago that "we didn't know anything of what is going on"
Actually, the Italian soldiers did not torture anyone.
They just confined themselves to deliver iraqi people to the torturers.
This is the italian style.





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