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Italy Using Soldiers to Patrol Cities in Order to Curb Crime

abc.net.au — The Italian government has defended its decision to use soldiers to patrol cities in an effort to curb crime, rejecting criticism that it will "militarise" the streets. The government announced that up to 2,500 soldiers, some of whom have served in Afghanistan, would be made available for a trial period of 6 months to help police in difficult areas

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  • gradient01, on 06/14/2008, -23/+6The person who posted the story didn't include a word that I think might be important for understanding why this is happening (not trying to insinuate anything ... the poster condensed things a bit). In any case, "urban" seems to be important here....

    """
    The government announced on Friday that up to 2,500 soldiers, some of whom have served in Afghanistan and Kosovo, would be made available for a trial period of six months to bolster the police in difficult *urban* areas.
    """

    Does anyone know if these troops are going to be deployed in areas where Muslim immigrants have settled? Maybe they are worried about riots similar to the ones that happened in France? If not, then I'm not sure I understand why they would be using the military for civilian police service. If so, then maybe it's not a bad idea given how dangerous these sorts of areas were for the French police.
    • Lukesed, on 06/15/2008, -6/+11Wait, it is OK to have a military police if you only put it where Muslims live? Have we learned nothing from Iraq?
      • hmunkey, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1European Muslims haven't assimilated and cause a lot of violent crime and riots. I'm not agreeing with what Italy has done, but you can't compare it to America.
      • gradient01, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1I didn't say it was OK, I just asked if it was so.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 06/15/2008, -8/+5You are an American, not an Italian.
      You do not know what the situation is. Please keep dumb comments to Yourself.
      • SifuMoKung, on 06/15/2008, -0/+7Seems to me he's just asking questions. Good questions too. By the way, I'm Italian, and I don't mind if the world takes an interest in our politics. We have too long a history to be scared of other peoples views.

        Mille grazie per il tuo opinione.
        • Owwmykneecap, on 06/15/2008, -3/+1there is a difference between takiing an interest and telling people what the situation is.

          the amount of Foreigners expressing incorrect opinion about Irelands rejection of the lisbon treaty yesterday has really annoyed me.
        • gradient01, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1SifuMoKung is correct: I was just asking a question. But, I am glad that I was able to piss of so many people with a simple question ... funny what people react to.
    • studdenfadden, on 06/15/2008, -0/+5The national police force in Italy is the Carabinieri, they ARE a division of the military. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabinieri
      While this plan sounds shocking to americans who are use to distinct divisions between the police and military, the line is all ready hazzy as hell in Italy.
      • SifuMoKung, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Formerly part of the military. They are paid from the state now for similar reasons that the U.S. Secret Service is paid through the Dept. of Treasury rather than the Dept. of Justice or the Military.
    • gradient01, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Well, I guess I'm not surprised by being buried on Digg by the "OH MY GOD, YOU RACIST!" crowd, but whatever. In any case, Owwmykneecap seems to be Italian -- do you know if they are deploying troops in Muslim areas? If not, any other Italians or Europeans know the particulars? I just find it unlikely that an Italian conservative politician would be deploying troops to police it's streets unless it was aimed at either Muslim immigrants or perhaps organized crime, and since no mention of organized crime was made, then it's probably the former. Yes?

      What?!? Some of my best friends are Muslim! LOL, yea, not really ...
  • Dzonatas, on 06/14/2008, -32/+7One nation finally gets it right!
    • Rammy912, on 06/15/2008, -1/+8Are you kidding me? Iran's been doing this for years ;)
  • vw2005, on 06/15/2008, -12/+7The army is no match for ...Fat Tony's army.
  • psi0nicgh0st, on 06/15/2008, -8/+47Mussolini strikes again!
    • ZenMojo, on 06/15/2008, -0/+5Oh well, guess they decided that since they abolished the death penalty the president won't get hung this time.
    • Chicken001, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Oh wow. Just as I read this article title I thought of this. Nice.
  • hsep88, on 06/15/2008, -10/+0I blame Zidane.
  • Plower, on 06/15/2008, -10/+22I think it could go well if the soldiers don't go on a power trip. Just having their presence on the streets in brutal areas should have a big impact.
    • ingxia, on 06/15/2008, -2/+8Until people realize they're just cops dressed in fatigues. Why not just give cops access to heavy artillery? (joke)
      • hmunkey, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Cops with assault rifles, grenades, military vehicles, and larger numbers. If i was a criminal I wouldn't be doing ***** with soldiers nearby.
    • Jhiaxuz, on 06/15/2008, -0/+6In theory, this could work.

      In theory, Communism works.
      • Tarnum, on 06/15/2008, -0/+2In practice, it's easier to bribe a solider.
        In practice, if a solider witnesses a crime in progress, what he is to do? He is not trained to chase and apprehend criminals. Shoot the criminal?
    • carlosos, on 06/15/2008, -1/+2This sounds like a great idea to protect the citizens and lower crime. It is better than having the military do nothing but the soldiers should have at least some education about being a temporary police officers.
    • kuzotz, on 06/17/2008, -0/+1I've lived in Turkey before, and police walk around with AKs, and sometimes soldiers are paid by store owners to deter criminals. Turkey has a very low crime rate because of that, and the culture. It isn't a bad place to live, and for the most part they aren't trigger happy, and a gun is the last thing they would even dare to think about using because ***** you can just grab a pickpocket and arrest them. I think most of you guys are Americans I am American also. I think we are so use to knowing that our police force i abusive that we assume everyone's is like ours.
  • Dumbledorito, on 06/15/2008, -2/+46Your papers, per favore.
    • mbraynard, on 06/15/2008, -30/+3Go ***** yourself. The education system in this country has deteriorated so much that argument is meaningless because no one has the knowledge of history to know what it means.

      Same for accusing my girl Ann Coulter of 'Macarthyism' ("She likes the Beatles!?!?!?)

      So yes, God forbid a police ask you for your papers, because the next thing you know, it's off to the gas chambers (another reference none of the retards under 40 are going to get).


      • Vash_aka_TK, on 06/15/2008, -1/+12You had me at Ann Coulter. And you know what, yes Republicans have brought out a new version of "McCarthyism" jackass (first off learn to spell before you start spouting about education) if you haven't been paying attention, the whole flag lapel thing and what is now dubbed "Patriotism" or at least by Fixed News.

        Second not to be a grammar whore either but it's "the police" not "a police."

        Thirdly you were referring to the Holocaust, a horrible and tragic event that took place during World War II so despite being under 40 I think I'm doing pretty good for myself.
      • Dumbledorito, on 06/15/2008, -1/+3mbraynard, "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual, FYI.

        And you forgot to close with "now get off my lawn."
    • Pixelante, on 06/15/2008, -6/+1"Papers please" is the rule in Europe. Having ID is mandatory in many countries, carrying ID too and any cop can ask you your ID any time. Europeans are fine with that.
  • kd420, on 06/15/2008, -14/+7I don't see the problem with having soldiers in the streets. Having them there doesn't automatically make it more of a police state. I'm sure you could be way worse of with regular police being more brutal/corrupt.
  • redwire, on 06/15/2008, -3/+109“There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.”
    • Scheissen, on 06/15/2008, -8/+17Police enforce laws so in that respect all they do is really protect the government. Its always citizens that are jailed, you never see police jailing politicians for starting wars.
      • hmunkey, on 06/15/2008, -1/+1Um, police protect the people who choose not to break the laws form those who do also. Did you forget that murders and thieves go to jail too?
    • ThatsNotPudding, on 06/15/2008, -2/+12So true. The Founding Fathers would be at the front of the mob to clamp these lying hypocrites in chains. Sadly, there is no mob; they're too busy Twittering about their sheep-based navel gazing - and about the god-like qualities of Steve Jobs. "Oh, when can I pay too much money to be tracked more effectively in real-time by the NSA?"
      • positron, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Uh. Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% against soldiers policing OUR streets in violation of Posse Comitatus. Just wondering what the Founding Fathers would be doing in Italy, meddling in the affairs of others.
    • Laiden, on 06/15/2008, -0/+12BSG quotes ftw.
    • sandbags, on 06/15/2008, -1/+0this man for president
    • mlhams, on 06/15/2008, -1/+3Just wait what happens when Bush & Cheney's private militia (Blackwater) are used against Americans chosen from their illegal wiretapping. Will make this Italian action sound like child's play.
    • Archer007, on 06/15/2008, -2/+1Thank you, Admiral Adama. Your fictional wisdom will not go unremembered.
  • ModernGeek, on 06/15/2008, -7/+47If this were in the United States, I could not even imagine what the uproar would be like.
    • mbraynard, on 06/15/2008, -5/+18Yes, especially among the crack dealers in New Faluja (Detriot). Really pissed off.
    • mbraynard, on 06/15/2008, -4/+13Well, it would be unconstitutional.
      • ericthesalmon, on 06/15/2008, -7/+5No it wouldn't.

        The Posse Comitatus and Insurrection Acts make it pretty clear that sometimes soldiers can be used as police.

        I think the Framers were even around for passage of the Insurrection Act.
        • ZenMojo, on 06/15/2008, -0/+10You have it backwards. The posse comitatus and insurrection acts PREVENT the military from being used as police except in cases specifically granted by our Constitution (invasion and insurrection, to be specific) or through specific legislation granted by Congress.

          Just because George W. Bush tried to use our military as police during Hurricane Katrina doesn't mean it wasn't completely a violation of the Constitution. He does it a lot.
        • Playos, on 06/15/2008, -4/+1I lived in New Orleans for before, during, and after Katrina... I (and everyone I knew) loved having the military police. It wasn't a violation of the constitution, as the entire region was an emergency area and the state granted the feds the power (hell, I think we begged) and many were actually state guardsmen from around the nation on loan to LA.

          The posse comitatus exists to ensure that the feds don't invade a disident state(s) who refuse to extend more power to the feds than they are allowed... no one who cares about New Orleans saw any take over by the feds (though it might have been better), we saw our federal tax dollars helping in an extrodinary security nightmare and our troops protecting us from threats domestic.

        • trixterIreland, on 06/15/2008, -0/+4National Guard was used in Katrina, they are supposed to be a militia not an army, but there are a few problems with this. They were raised with congresses power to raise armies, they now serve on foreign soil, and you cant quit at any time, so the claim they are a militia is dubious at best. They are an army in their current capacity and as such should not be tolerated to police anything domestically anymore.


          This is why it was a big deal that Delta force was used against Koresh in Waco Texas. Janet Reno took the hit for this, but ya know the army does not report to the attorney general, they report to the president, so the orders had to come from someone higher up than her. Lessee who was that again?
      • trixterIreland, on 06/15/2008, -0/+3This is why it was a big deal that Delta force was used against Koresh in Waco Texas. Janet Reno took the hit for this, but ya know the army does not report to the attorney general, they report to the president, so the orders had to come from someone higher up than her. Lessee who was that again?
        • mbraynard, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Forget it man. For this crowd, history began yesterday.
        • kuzotz, on 06/17/2008, -0/+1I don't live in Italy thus I don't care...
          I mean seriously I am moving to Japan in a few months so none of this ***** matters to me anymore.

          Suck it bitches!!
    • Owwmykneecap, on 06/15/2008, -7/+38there would be none.

      Every time the right to bare arms is questioned here, a bunch of chest puffing americans bluster "we need them to keep us safe from Government Tyranny"

      Yet when the Gov walks all over rights, the constitution and International Law, No one does anything.
    • LemonDefragger, on 06/15/2008, -3/+5Yes. I can imagine it. Hundreds of tens of people protesting in front of some nondescript building. It'll be amazing.
    • noisey, on 06/15/2008, -1/+26I don't know anymore, I see a lot of idiots saying, "I don't see a problem with it".

      Seriously, give it a couple years and people in the US will probably vote in a military state, because they are "afraid" or something or another.
      • SillyDigger, on 06/15/2008, -0/+11You also forgot:

        "I'm all for it"
        "These are different times"
        "I'm not sure what the hubbub is all about"
        "I'm all for it if it means we'll be safer"
        "We are at war"
        "We were attacked on 9-11"

        ...idiots
    • xakkkk, on 06/15/2008, -0/+16There won't be any uproar...
    • maiku00, on 06/15/2008, -0/+16Are you kidding? Nobody would bat an eye.
    • SpeedSteamBoat, on 06/15/2008, -1/+3These idiots can assume American liberty is a dead horse. I, for one, would take to streets. I would not be alone.
    • ScottMitchell, on 06/15/2008, -0/+3Don't military already "police" our airports? While you see a lot less of it, I remember seeing one or two soliders with automatic rifles walking through our airports in the year or two following 9-11.
      • noisey, on 06/15/2008, -0/+4Ya and you can drink a beer and smoke a joint in front of them and they cant don't do *****. Because they're not policing!
      • trixterIreland, on 06/15/2008, -0/+2well that was the national guard iirc, and that is questionable.

        Its illegal to use the army on US soil against US citizens, something about the constitution forbidding it. The national guard was raised with congresses power to raise armies, further they are serving on foreign soil in a war zone now, so they can hardly be called a militia (which is all voluntary you can quit anytime).

        This is why it was a big deal that Delta force was used against Koresh in Waco Texas. Janet Reno took the hit for this, but ya know the army does not report to the attorney general, they report to the president, so the orders had to come from someone higher up than her. Lessee who was that again?
    • ICSU, on 06/15/2008, -0/+3The National Guard are soldiers. It's legally different but it's the same in reality.
      • trixterIreland, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1The national guard was raised with congresses power to raise armies, they are serving over seas now as an army, there is no difference in reality.

    • diggingaround, on 06/15/2008, -0/+4Well you guys have forgot that who patrolled the streets of New Orleans after Katrina? That's right the BlackWater douchebags... now how's that constitutional?
      • trixterIreland, on 06/15/2008, -0/+3Under Milligan, which is the case that said that Abe Lincoln violated the constitution by suspending habeus corpus, it would be questionable, since in essence they said martial law is not allowed, however in a strict sense, blackwater isnt the military, they are a private security corporation (or private military corporation as some prefer).

        The supreme court further added that martial law can be imposed but under specific conditions
        "If, in foreign invasion or civil war, the courts are actually closed, and it is impossible to administer criminal justice according to law, then, on the theatre of active military operations, where war really prevails, there is a necessity to furnish a substitute for the civil authority, thus overthrown, to preserve the safety of the army and society; and as no power is left but the military, it is allowed to govern by martial rule until the laws can have their free course. As necessity creates the rule, so it limits its duration; for, if this government is continued after the courts are reinstated, it is a gross usurpation of power. Martial rule can never exist where the courts are open, and in the proper and unobstructed exercise of their jurisdiction. It is also confined to the locality of actual war."

        • ScottMitchell, on 06/16/2008, -0/+1How does LBJ's actions of having the National Guard "protect" the integrated students in Arkansas back in the 1960s relate to this? Was that act by LBJ unconstitutional?
        • kuzotz, on 06/17/2008, -0/+1Blackwater is a PMC and is really ***** large. I hate the fact that they are in the south, and they are still down there.
    • LenBaird, on 06/16/2008, -0/+1http://www.dailynewscaster.com/2008/06/03/marines- ...
      They are training for it as we speak in Indianaoplis.
  • benologist, on 06/15/2008, -14/+5It makes sense. Those soldiers already have half the training they need and are an expensive, unused resource most of the time. There's not a whole lot of difference between the police and the army beyond their uniforms and the size of their guns anyway, they're both government organizations.
    • noisey, on 06/15/2008, -2/+7Please tell me you don't vote, or you're a 14 year old kid who doesn't know any better. Because if I heard you say this in a bar I'd beat the ***** out of you, you ignorant piece of crap.

      Let me put it simply for your stupid mind. The military is designed for enemies - ONLY ENEMIES. Police live the community they police, they have law and training that go with keeping the citizenry in line.

      When you get the military policing citizens, what do you have? You have a policed state, directly controlled by politicians, and only answerable to them.
      • benologist, on 06/15/2008, -4/+2Um, I'm not sure how to break it to you so I'll just come right out and say it. The military is, has been, and will always be called on in times of disaster including as keepers of the peace both domestically and internationally.
        • sandbags, on 06/15/2008, -0/+0wow, you have zero diggs? How can that be??? lol
        • benologist, on 06/15/2008, -2/+1I guess it's because people haven't heard of the National Guard or they're confused about who they, what they do and where they do it. They are part of the Army (or Air Force), and were recently seen policing New Orleans, and that wasn't the first time they've been deployed to keep the peace.
  • deweyhewson, on 06/15/2008, -11/+3I'm not necessarily opposed to this practice - like it matters anyway as I'm not Italian - but I will say that it is interesting how soldiers can command respect just by their presence while the police can't.

    In that respect this could be a good thing, if done the right way for the right reasons.
    • InfernoX, on 06/15/2008, -0/+7Well it's a simple equation:

      -Police Officers are trained to enforce the law

      -Soldiers are trained to kill

  • 2bsbc, on 06/15/2008, -7/+1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1T8xgHdMEM&feature ...

    IT'S ROLL CALL TIME, MAKE IT COUNT!

    • Owwmykneecap, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1Seeing Rage in 4 weeks, on my Birthday.

      Could I be any more spectacular?
  • mbraynard, on 06/15/2008, -14/+3The article suggests that seeing soldiers will discourage tourism. Knowing what I know about extreme Islam and Roma elements in certain geographies, I'd certainly feel safer seeing a platoon patrol by.
    • appleseed1234, on 06/15/2008, -1/+6Moronic, you say it as if Italy was a war-torn third world state with terrorism lurking around every corner.
      Italy's fine, Europe's fine, America's fine. You're just a ***** idiot.
      • mbraynard, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1There are neighborhoods in the US where crime rampant. Same for Italy and France. These are the areas these soldiers are securing.
  • peticsu, on 06/15/2008, -1/+9Are they going to use those soldiers for garbage detail or are they going to blame the immigrants on that too?
  • TravisG5, on 06/15/2008, -2/+18You guys would be going insane if this happened in the US.
    • 2bsbc, on 06/15/2008, -3/+15Sadly , you're mistaken. A select few would be going insane, the rest would be calling us insane conspiracy theorists.
      • CrimsonBlur, on 06/15/2008, -2/+8You may be right, I'm not sure. There is a comment further down about basically the same thing being done in the US, but it isn't quite on the same scale. It's basically just a traffic stop. Still, I don't like it at all, luckily I don't live in D.C.

        Conspiracy theories aside, there are very specific and important reasons why police officers exist in the first place. There is absolutely no reason government soldiers should take the place of police officers.
        • kuzotz, on 06/17/2008, -0/+1What they are doing in DC is going to hurt many of the local businesses that operate in those areas because it's keeping out regular customers. It may seem like a good way to deter crime, but it destroys the local economy. This was done in another city in America before.
      • appleseed1234, on 06/15/2008, -0/+21Believe me, if 50 percent of our country is stupid enough to put us through 4 more years of another Republican, they're stupid enough to embrace this if it were spun properly.
  • Tr3mulant, on 06/15/2008, -0/+24Hey that's cool. At least we stiil have our Posse Comitatus here in America. Oh wait....
    • ericthesalmon, on 06/15/2008, -3/+2Posse Comitatus always allowed congress to authorize use of soldiers as police, didn't it?

      The article implies to me the Italian Parliament is backing this.
  • gbates31, on 06/15/2008, -2/+28Wow. I was playing a game of Monopoly on Ubuntu over the Internet a couple months ago with a guy from Italy. In the very broken English that he was using, he was telling me about how bad the crime and drug running is in Italy due to foreign nationals and how frustrated he was that the government wasn't doing anything about it. He also mentioned to me that he or one of his friends was injured in a fight between one of the outlaws. Looks like he got his wish.
    • SifuMoKung, on 06/15/2008, -0/+12Crime is awful. Naples has had a garbage strike for over a year now. Partly due to limited landfill space, and partly due to mafia corruption. I don't know that this is the answer, but at least they aren't ignoring the problem. The question will be how successful the military will be from mafia influence.
  • p0s3r, on 06/15/2008, -1/+31Wow, how strange. They're doing almost the same thing in Washington D.C.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic ...
    • SpeedSteamBoat, on 06/15/2008, -0/+6DC has felt like a de-militarized zone since 9/11.

      I was there in '05. There were MP5 and M4 armed men everywhere in full assault gear.
  • sh4rkb1t3, on 06/15/2008, -15/+7This is an excellent idea. Crime rate is going to plummet. Anyone against the idea just has irrational fears of the government and the military, or are the criminals themselves.
    • Steeple, on 06/15/2008, -1/+9you can't mix the military with general public.
      they just aren't trained to deal with angry/frightened/emotional people
    • noisey, on 06/15/2008, -1/+8"irrational fears of the government"?

      You are an idiot. I hope you are not American. Because if you are, get out now and move to China or something where the "nice friendly government" can "take care of you" because "you're frightened and scared".
    • sfacets, on 06/15/2008, -1/+6sh4rkb1t3: Wow.
    • ZenMojo, on 06/15/2008, -1/+5The US military is a primed, sharpened, and honed killing edge. The police are a civilian subdual force.
    • SifuMoKung, on 06/15/2008, -1/+5Let us presume that the army doesn't violate peoples rights, which is often the case. I fear the crime rate will be lowered until the army leaves, then, everybody will open up shop again as though nothing had happened. This approach is very reminiscent of how Mussolini came into power. He was very popular until the war started going bad for the Axis. The Italians weren't to fond of Hitler, but they loved Il Duce. I don't think this is a fix. I'm not even sure it's a band-aid.
  • Barackalypse, on 06/15/2008, -2/+21If things get to the point where you need soldiers on the street, you have failed miserably. Perhaps Italy should reform its immigration, welfare, and sentencing policies to address the type of people that cause crime in the first place.
    • kuzotz, on 06/17/2008, -0/+1there is a lot of corruption due to the mafia.
  • FearNoEvil, on 06/15/2008, -3/+15The world is heading towards tyranny and unless we wake up quick... we're all doomed!
  • argosinfotech, on 06/15/2008, -4/+2very gud efforts :)
  • Troy64, on 06/15/2008, -1/+6I think they are also doing this to help fight drug trafficking in some cities in Mexico.
  • Dzonatas, on 06/15/2008, -9/+3The dugg down my comment above, so I guess the people here really like to send troops to other countries for them to die. They be better off at home. Yes, it seems like a "police/military state" thing to do. Iif the military are there, however, to only help what the police already do now, then it doesn't seem like an attempt to make any new marshal law. After the Iraq war, with people wanting troops to be at home, I'd thought people would have a clue. If the crime is really bad, it might be a good idea to put an extra military unit as a passenger in each cop car. Get it?
    • skeptic42, on 06/15/2008, -0/+1I may agree with you, but no second chances.
  • InfernoX, on 06/15/2008, -9/+2I don't think it's THAT bad of an idea, as long as the soldiers don't act like douchebags the entire time and simply act as police officers do then I don't see the problem.

  • sjug, on 06/15/2008, -5/+11Italy just needed a headline, since it can't win any football games
    • anonymous1986, on 06/15/2008, -1/+3World Champions if you forgot
      • Skurj, on 06/16/2008, -0/+1not for long :P
        • anonymous1986, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1Two years at least, that's a long time :P .Hopefully it could be reinforced with euro 2008.
  • nastronomical, on 06/15/2008, -9/+3Italys socialist sit on my ass attitude comes back to bite it.
    • ZenMojo, on 06/15/2008, -0/+7Italy's controlled by the conservative wing, buddy.
      • heinleineken, on 06/15/2008, -1/+0the conservative wing---of the socialist party
        in fact most of the world is.
        like the library--socialism
        like public school--socialism
        like public health--socialism
        like public highways--socialism
        call it something else if it makes you feel better, but it is what it is
  • ThatsNotPudding, on 06/15/2008, -3/+12Coming soon* to an American street near you.

    * - False Flag ruse on the eve of the presidential elections.
    • ThetaDot, on 06/15/2008, -0/+2You want to make a wager out of that one?
  • akohut, on 06/15/2008, -3/+15If Italy ever has a puppy problem we could always send some American troops over.
    • rif42, on 06/15/2008, -0/+2You should rather send over a battalion of garbage collectors.
  • InsultComedy, on 06/15/2008, -1/+22Did anyone say martial law? This is the slow road to fascism around the world. First a test phase, then an example for other nations.
    • noisey, on 06/15/2008, -0/+10Then a bunch of plants to make comments like you see here.
      "There's no problem with it."
      "We already do it when there's a disaster or emergency."
      "Soldiers are just like police anyhow."
      "It's all the same government."

      Man, this thread has pissed me off big time. The term "Sheeple", while used ad nauseam, really applies here.
      • Playos, on 06/15/2008, -2/+0Really? I call *****... as I said earlier, livied in New Orleans with MPs everywhere and loved it... if all police were like MPs I'd welcome a police state. They really only cared about people killing, hurting, and stealing. Everything else wasn't in their job description and they weren't screwing around.

        In Mexico right now the police are powerless against drug and human trafficers, in large part due to the fact that they are way better funded and armed than the police (in TJ, just south of where I live now, police were litterly armed slingshots instead of guns because of coruption) that they have no chance. If your fighting a para-military group, you need military personal to protect ANY form of goverment... fascist, communist, socialist, capitalist, democratic, dictitorial, ext...
  • BillE3, on 06/15/2008, -4/+3I would like to hear more from the citizens in Italy. We can comentary all we want about the pros and cons, what is it really like where these troops are being stationed? If it is anything like our border towns, I would welcome the troops. The Mexican drug cartels now have something similar to open warfare along the border. Even the news media actually reports on it once in a while.
  • vinwal, on 06/15/2008, -4/+7And the NWO marches on.
  • SilverBlade2k, on 06/15/2008, -2/+6This, to me, is way too similar to the definition of a police state..
    • jameshales, on 06/15/2008, -2/+2But... I thought the problem was that they *aren't* police.
  • Dzonatas, on 06/15/2008, -0/+5Italy needs more journalism about what is going on!
  • sandbags, on 06/15/2008, -2/+8I thought these guys were done with fascism?

    I literally cannot believe how many people think this isnt such a bad thing. Can you all just get off of my planet and go live somewhere else? planet Ididntlearnathinginhistoryclass should suit you fine.
    • Playos, on 06/15/2008, -2/+1Oh god of history... what country has turned into a police state after using the military to enforce violent crime protection? They seem to be posted with a clear mission, and unless your guna tell me these drug trafficers are some sort of national reform movement abiding by the law... this isn't history repeating.
  • kakwakas, on 06/15/2008, -2/+5...Are they all wearing black shirts?
  • nuno86, on 06/15/2008, -7/+1It isn't a bad idea at all, because as we can see, it's in Italy and they're italian soldiers. If they were american soldiers in the USA than yes, you should be afraid. They would probably fight criminals with war tanks in the streets driven by maniacs listening to Drowning Pool's music "Let the bodies it the floor".
  • Mediamoron, on 06/15/2008, -4/+5The people WILL be protected from themselves, no matter the cost.
  • SifuMoKung, on 06/15/2008, -1/+4Italy needs to have party stability first. Until they stop splintering into different political sects, they will be very vulnerable to a fascist transition, especially in lieu of the crime, immigration, and economic issues they face. The state police, or Carabinieri, should be fulfilling this role, not the army. The Carabinieri do need some major house cleaning, however. I fear for my beloved "little boot".

    Fratelli d'Italia, il cani di guerra non sono polizia! Devi pulire il criminali fuori della casa politico prima! Dopo, le strade!
    • Pixelante, on 06/15/2008, -2/+2Ma imparare un po' di italiano corretto prima di scrivere cagate no?
      Translated: couldn't you learn some correct italian before writing *****? Sounds like Babelfishcrap.
      • SifuMoKung, on 06/15/2008, -2/+1Grazie per il tuo aiuto. No ho parlato italiano per venti anni.
        Questo pezzo di'italiano conosco molto bene -
        "Cagate in mano, e prenditi unna schiaffa."

        Translation - Thanks for your help. I haven't spoken Italian in 20 years. This piece of Italian I know very well. ***** in your hand and slap yourself.
  • Asidic, on 06/15/2008, -2/+3I hope this is successful in the Naples area, hopefully they'll be able to do something about the Camorra and the trash issue.
  • DeFex, on 06/15/2008, -0/+3just wait a couple of weeks till they elect a new government
  • charlietuna, on 06/15/2008, -2/+3How could anyone imagine that deploying soldiers on general patrol would "militarize" the streets? Really, where did that idea come from?
  • jameshales, on 06/15/2008, -0/+5Three questions:

    1) What will they be armed with? (any worse than what the police have?)
    2) What powers will they have? (I presume they'd have exactly the same as the police)
    3) What training will they have? (will they know how to deal with situations correctly, or will they e.g. respond with force when it's inappropriate?)
  • BlatheringIdiot, on 06/15/2008, -1/+4"Why, no- we DON'T learn from past mistakes"
  • nirvanix, on 06/15/2008, -2/+7Mussolini would be proud.
  • Rhymenoceros, on 06/15/2008, -0/+5I lived in italy for a while. They had soldiers protecting outside of banks and Mosques all the time. It came as a shock to me but no one seemed to mine.
    • MarsSentinel, on 06/15/2008, -0/+2Not "protecting". Watching , yes. Protecting, no way. What do cops protect you from? Nothing. They come in afterward and rustle around looking for the guy who sold the pot. They dont protect.
  • spyd3rweb, on 06/15/2008, -2/+1I'd probably trust the troops more than the cops.
  • tufftugg, on 06/15/2008, -1/+5 Just wait till America leaves Iraq, 'Blackwater' will need work!! Coming soon to a U.S. city near you.
  • batsaru, on 06/15/2008, -1/+0thats how they did it in Ancient Roman times, so i think they are well on their way to former glory
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