Our newest outpost of the Empire: US Army opens new $310 million base in northern Italy

[n2doc]

by Kent Harris
Stars and Stripes


VICENZA, Italy – The Army’s newest installation is open for business.

Caserma Del Din, the new home of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, celebrated a grand opening Tuesday with an array of American and Italian dignitaries in attendance.

“I am very proud to say it is the most beautiful base of any army of any nation that I’ve seen around the world,” said Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, the No. 2 Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee and one of three members of Congress attending the ceremony.

The $310 million project, which faced considerable opposition from Italians against militarism, will house elements of the 173rd, the 509th Signal Battalion and eventually U.S. Army Africa. A few dozen protesters still opposed to the project gathered several blocks away.

David Thorne, the U.S. ambassador to Italy, and Col. David Buckingham, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza, each said that further efforts would be made to win over critics and expand the ties between the American community that has called Vicenza home for decades and its Italian neighbors.

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http://www.stripes.com/news/us-army-opens-new-base-in-northern-italy-1.228494

We surely didn't need that money here!

[Cirque du So-What]

1. What is the ostensible purpose of stationing troops in Northern Italy?

Is the US military gonna stage an airborne raid on nearby Switzerland? In light of all the billionaires hiding their money in offshore accounts, however, maybe that's not such a bad idea, but we all know THAT's not gonna happen.

[n2doc]

2. Access to great food and wine for the officers n/t

[Recursion]

4. Operations in the Maghreb

This is AFRICOM, which couldn't find an African country willing to host it for the amount we were willing to pay.

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. " will house elements of the 173rd, the 509th Signal Battalion and eventually U.S. Army Africa.

"eventually U.S. Army Africa." is key here.
We are trying to beat the Russians and the China in colonizing Africa.
The basic goal is to grab the water, minerals, energy sources, and to help Monsanto get richer by outlawing any seeds except theirs.
See:How Monsanto Is Threatening Global Food Diversity With The State Department’s Help
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/05/15/2007871/monsanto-global-food-diversity/?mobile=nc

China has put some troops in Mali, I read this week.

[Cirque du So-What]

27. Empire-building is hard work

presumably harder than taking vacation in order to clear brush on a hog farm / ranch.

[frazzled]

3. You don't understand what an empire is, do you?

You create an empire when you have SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY over other territories. The term comes from the Latin "imperium," meaning power or authority

When the US has military bases in other countries, they have no authority over the government or people of those countries. The Russians, British, French, Turks, and Indians also maintain overseas military bases.

[Recursion]

5. There are several ways empires happen; even Rome only had sovereign authority over a portion...

... of "the Roman Empire".

(Incidentally, we've been an empire since the Spanish-American war. Ask a Filipino.)

[frazzled]

8. But we have no authority over Italy

But since you're hellbent on using the term in a hyperbolic way, knock yourself out.

[Recursion]

10. So compare it to England rather than Rome

By your argument nobody ever had imperial presence in China, for heaven's sake.

[frazzled]

13. Nanking, 1937?

That's when Japan invaded China, massacred as many as 300,000, and set up a puppet state with Wang Jingwei.

How can you compare a new military base in Italy, where we already have miltary bases. In addition, the bases are considered Italian territory and can be managed by the Italian state at any time.

Not that the Italian state is very good at managing anything, including themselves.

[Recursion]

14. I was thinking 1900 or so; Opium wars

How can you compare a new military base in Italy, where we already have miltary bases. In addition, the bases are considered Italian territory and can be managed by the Italian state at any time.

I think you're confusing me with the OP? The base in Italy is intended to be a platform for operations in the Maghreb -- if you insist on comparing us to Rome, than Italy is Armenia.

[frazzled]

16. I never mentioned Rome.

I think you're confusing me with someone else.

[Recursion]

18. You used the Latin definition of Imperium

which AFAIK only ever applied to the Roman empire, not other empires.

[frazzled]

19. Yo, I was talking etymology and definitions

Because the discussion was about the use of the WORD empire to describe the opening of a new army base in Italy. English words sometimes have their basis in Latin derivations. When we talk modern empires we're talking Portugal, Spain, France, Britain ... and yes, Japan.

Now, if you want to talk about Iraq as a possible expression of US imperialism (empire), we might have a discussion. But we're talking about a base in a foreign country that has no authorial power in that country (the opposite, in fact), and has not even set up a puppet government.

[Recursion]

20. I was thinking more Chad and Ethiopia

Operations in which this base is intended to support.

[n2doc]

9. We were able to get a jet with a foreign head of state forced down and searched

But you stick to your outdated notions of empire. I am sure it helps you sleep better at night.

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Turns out the jet was not searched, actually.

Reuters saying now:
Bolivian defense minister says President Morales' plane was not searched in Austria; no one boarded aircraft because Morales resisted.

[chimpymustgo]

6. Welcome to the EMPIRE!

I want to vomit. Every piece of news is worse and worse.

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. Are you un-patriotic?

What is wrong with preparing against the possibility that France or Austria would invade Italy?
"You know nothing Jon Snow".

[Recursion]

11. OFFS. These are AFRICOM troops for deployment to Africa

Italy is a good place from which to reach anywhere in North Africa.

[rusty fender]

15. Really?

In case the zombie, Rommel, will lead an army against "our" interests there?

[Recursion]

17. You do know we were engaged in a shooting war in the Maghreb only a few months ago, right?

And we're still in brushfire wars in Chad and Ethiopia/Somalia right now, right?

[rusty fender]

21. And that's a good thing? Right?

[Recursion]

22. I don't know that I'd ever call war "good", so no (nt)

[L0oniX]

12. Our grannies, poor, hungry, homeless and sick are happy to contribute.

[progressoid]

23. Phew! Now I can sleep at night.

I've been a nervous wreck for years knowing we didn't have a base in Northern Italy.

Finally, I feel safe again.

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. Aren't ya glad we can afford it?

Here I was worrying about the economy....

[progressoid]

28. Silly grrrrl,

Any day now the Wall Street bail out will start trickling down to us.