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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOur newest outpost of the Empire: US Army opens new $310 million base in northern Italy
by Kent Harris
Stars and Stripes
VICENZA, Italy The Armys 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 Ive 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.
more
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
(25,988 posts)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
(47,953 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)This is AFRICOM, which couldn't find an African country willing to host it for the amount we were willing to pay.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)"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 Departments 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
(25,988 posts)presumably harder than taking vacation in order to clear brush on a hog farm / ranch.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)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
(56,582 posts)... of "the Roman Empire".
(Incidentally, we've been an empire since the Spanish-American war. Ask a Filipino.)
frazzled
(18,402 posts)But since you're hellbent on using the term in a hyperbolic way, knock yourself out.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)By your argument nobody ever had imperial presence in China, for heaven's sake.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)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
(56,582 posts)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
(18,402 posts)I think you're confusing me with someone else.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)which AFAIK only ever applied to the Roman empire, not other empires.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)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
(56,582 posts)Operations in which this base is intended to support.
n2doc
(47,953 posts)But you stick to your outdated notions of empire. I am sure it helps you sleep better at night.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Reuters saying now:
Bolivian defense minister says President Morales' plane was not searched in Austria; no one boarded aircraft because Morales resisted.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)I want to vomit. Every piece of news is worse and worse.
Bonhomme Richard
(9,000 posts)What is wrong with preparing against the possibility that France or Austria would invade Italy?
"You know nothing Jon Snow".
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Italy is a good place from which to reach anywhere in North Africa.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)In case the zombie, Rommel, will lead an army against "our" interests there?
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And we're still in brushfire wars in Chad and Ethiopia/Somalia right now, right?
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)progressoid
(49,999 posts)I've been a nervous wreck for years knowing we didn't have a base in Northern Italy.
Finally, I feel safe again.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Here I was worrying about the economy....
progressoid
(49,999 posts)Any day now the Wall Street bail out will start trickling down to us.