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2007-02-18 Europe

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Posted by Steve White 2007-02-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 To be fair, the Italian campaign in WWII was a botch. Thank you, Gen. Mark Clark.

I am not sure which is worse: 1) when the Italians have no respect for law and order, like now, or 2) when the Italians have too much respect for law and order, like 1930–1943.

Posted by Eric Jablow">Eric Jablow 2007-02-18 07:45|| 2007-02-18 07:45|| Front Page Top

#2 Reminds me of the old war joke

Whats the difference between an Italian and a piece of toast ?

You can make soldiers out of a piece of toast.

Posted by MacNails 2007-02-18 08:16|| 2007-02-18 08:16|| Front Page Top

#3 Was stationed at Caserma Ederle in the mid 70s. It was an old Italian Army post on the east side of the city, taken over by the Germans when the eyeties flipped in 43 and occupied by the Americans since 45. Its a small installation hemmed in by what goes for the burbs in that part of the world. The main entrance is off the main street. Its like trying to enter a busy mall entrance with the traffic. Not my concept of a secure location with all sorts of threat scenarios to cause considerable damage among both the military and civilian population. Considering the less than excellent support by the locales, its better to take potential targets elsewhere for improved force protection.

Yes, American interests need better and bigger facilities. However, geographically and operationally, Vicenza is more a comfortable habit rather than a good location. [When I was stationed on the base, there was a nice three star restaurant just outside the main gate and a half mile east and over the railroad bridge]. Its the old generals and admirals whining again like they did about the Philippine bases as being absolutely positively necessary. Guess what, they werent.

It would be better to build new elsewhere. Best to use this as an excuse the make it happen. If they insist for political reasons to keep something in Italy, then by all means look to Sardinia and an arrangement like the Brits have in Cyprus. The Sardinians need the economic boost and will be less likely to whine. The American forces will get new decent facilities that address the force protection nightmare that Vicenza presents. Land should not be a problem.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-02-18 09:12|| 2007-02-18 09:12|| Front Page Top

#4 Agree with Procopius... it's more of a habit. I stopped over there in 1985: a tiny and charming small post, entirely surrounded by suburbs.
Also, NPR had a story this AM on the protests with all the local luvvies in full whine, all about those narsty, narsty Yankee warmongers blighting their nice little neighborhood... since after all, the Cold War is over.
And the NPR reporter mentioned a sign reading "Help us Nancy Pelosi!" (barf)
Got to admit, they have a point about the Cold War being over, though. Damned if I know what we are still doing with large permanent bases in Europe.

Posted by Sgt. Mom 2007-02-18 10:50|| www.ncobrief.com]">[www.ncobrief.com] 2007-02-18 10:50|| Front Page Top

#5 No big deal. They hate us until they need us, like P said about the Philippines. We should pull pitch the hell out of that country as fast as we can. They will be calling us back in five to ten, begging.

Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan 2007-02-18 11:36|| 2007-02-18 11:36|| Front Page Top

#6 3 gets you 5 that the 173rd ends up living in Kurdistan.

Posted by Shipman 2007-02-18 11:42|| 2007-02-18 11:42|| Front Page Top

#7 Best to pull the airbase out too. That way we won't get suckered when the Balkans blow up again.

Posted by ed 2007-02-18 12:31|| 2007-02-18 12:31|| Front Page Top

#8 Steve,

South Carolina or Kurdistan, but move it out of Italy.

Hell, put the damn camp in South Carolina. There's more than sufficient room close enough to major airfields, and Americans will welcome them.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2007-02-18 12:32|| 2007-02-18 12:32|| Front Page Top

#9 3 gets you 5 that the 173rd ends up living in Kurdistan.

gotta love the Kurds great folks and they need our support... they are among the few groups of Arabs that seem to get it... support yes but not the 173rd, ima in favor South Carolina for the 173rd.
**

Thanks you State Dept, your policies have rewarded "allies" for decades unconditionally with support/largess in spite of their behavior. Yep your genius has bred full contempt for our our Armed Forces overseas.

Thanks assholes for nothing and for wasting our tax dollars.

Posted by RD 2007-02-18 18:27|| 2007-02-18 18:27|| Front Page Top

23:58 JosephMendiola
23:47 gromgoru
23:47 JosephMendiola
23:46 gromgoru
23:34 JosephMendiola
23:29 JosephMendiola
23:23 JosephMendiola
22:54 USN, ret.
22:42 JosephMendiola
22:40 Angenter Crolugum3645
22:36 JosephMendiola
22:24 JosephMendiola
22:17 trailing wife
22:14 mrp
22:12 trailing wife
22:11 JosephMendiola
21:50 gromgoru
21:50 KBK
21:46 gromgoru
21:45 USN, ret.
21:44 gromgoru
21:42 Asymmetrical T
21:23 USN, ret.
21:22 Mullah Richard