Anti-Bush protests in Rome

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe...eut/index.html

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Opponents of the war in Iraq unfurled peace flags from Rome's bridges, put hoods on statues and chanted "Bush Go Home" two days before the president makes a controversial visit to Italy.

The demonstrations took place in various parts of the Italian capital Wednesday as political leaders attended the annual Republic Day military parade under tight security.

The demonstrators, who have dubbed themselves "The Disobedient," held their own march nearby but police in riot gear were on hand to keep them away from the parade route.

Protesters, including some leftist parliamentarians, chanted "Peace Now!," "Troops Out of Iraq!" and "Italy hates war."

Bush told Italian state television he valued freedom of speech and was not afraid of protests during his Rome visit.

"I have no problem with people who say they don't agree. I think it (demonstrating) is a healthy thing," he said.

Some 25 people were detained in Rome after minor scuffles with military police. Further north in Bologna, violence escalated as police wielding batons beat back protesters who broke through barricades at an anti-war demonstration.

This year's Rome parade, in which military, police and volunteer units marched as planes flew overhead, has taken on added controversy because of the war in Iraq.

Italy is braced for violence over Bush's visit and Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu has said he was "concerned but not frightened" by what he called serious threats during the 36-hour visit that starts Thursday night.

Most Italians opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year and there have been many calls for Rome to withdraw its some 2,700 troops, the third-biggest contingent to U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq after the United States and Britain.

"It is shameful, a provocation, for Bush to come here. Italy does not want him, he is a friend of the Italian government, not the Italian people," said Margarita Gaetani, a 57-year-old architect who wrapped herself in a rainbow peace flag.

She pledged to return Friday to protest against Bush.

Plumed soldiers marched on Via dei Fori Imperiali (Way of the Imperial Forums), the broad boulevard that wartime dictator Benito Mussolini built over ancient ruins to review troops.

Hood protest
At the same time, demonstrators unfurled peace flags from ancient bridges and pulled a black hood over the statue of an angel to protest against the prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq.

They re-enacted scenes of the prisoner abuse which has inflamed the Arab world and embarrassed the United States by revealing the ugly side of its occupation.

Other banners read "Liberate Rome from Bush." Bush's visit will mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi-occupied Rome by allied forces.

Security chiefs considered the parade, which was attended by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a dress rehearsal for the Bush visit, when about 10,000 uniformed police will be on hand.

Some fear a repeat of the violent clashes that marred a G8 summit in the northern city of Genoa three years ago when one protester was killed by police.

Opposition to the Iraq war grew after 19 Italians died there in November and a security guard was killed in April.

They re-enacted scenes of the prisoner abuse which has inflamed the Arab world and embarrassed the United States by revealing the ugly side of its occupation.

...

Now is that really necessary?

It's Rome, the Romans can do whatever they like to their own statues.

When in Rome...

At least they didn't throw purple flour.

^Good one.

^ thanks

Is it just me, or is it ironic that they are protesting a war in which America is trying to free Iraq, yet America did the same for them 60 years ago on D-Day...?



Wait a tick...

^That was France, not Italy.

So almost the entire world hates Bush. This is new...how? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

^^As already said, D-Day was launched to liberate France. By D-Day, Italy had already been liberated.

I'm pretty sure France and Italy are the same country.

More seriously, for the most part, they're not anti-America, they're anti-Bush-administration. Very very very anti-Bush-administration. George W. Bush was not alive during D-Day.

Anyway, America didn't start WW2. Hitler (and I guess Mussolini) declared war on us, after we declared war on Japan in response for Pearl Harbor.

[ June 05, 2004, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: UserGoogol ]

Originally posted by UserGoogol:
I'm pretty sure France and Italy are the same country.

...What? Did I miss something?

More seriously, for the most part, they're not anti-America, they're anti-Bush-administration. Very very very anti-Bush-administration. George W. Bush was not alive during D-Day.

True dat.

Anyway, America didn't start WW2. Hitler (and I guess Mussolini) declared war on us, after we declared war on Japan in response for Pearl Harbor.

Yup. Italy was Allied with Germany in WW2. I think it was because they were disappoitned that they didn't gain as much land as they wanted after WW1. (The teacher didn't mention why Italy was sided with Germany in WW2 in his "WW2-in-30-minutes" drill)

I'm pretty sure France and Italy are the same country.

...

quote:
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Anyway, America didn't start WW2. Hitler (and I guess Mussolini) declared war on us, after we declared war on Japan in response for Pearl Harbor.
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Yup. Italy was Allied with Germany in WW2. I think it was because they were disappoitned that they didn't gain as much land as they wanted after WW1. (The teacher didn't mention why Italy was sided with Germany in WW2 in his "WW2-in-30-minutes" drill)

Wolrd War Two was started long before Hitler got high up. The moment the damned Versailles Treaty was signed we had brought it down. Hitler just exploited it. Italy joined the Axis because in WW1 the Allies promised them land if they betrayed their comrades and gave them jack ****. I think Japan joined the war for similar reasons(besides the expansion of their rule), but I am not sure.

[imported_Parrakarry]

HE WAS MAKING A JOKE, PEOPLE.

People hate Bush? Wow. I'm... really surprised. I thought Bush was the best president EVER!!!!!! Well... if Hillary Clinton was elected, she'd be better.

Japan joined because of anger at the American sanctions- very damaging to a such a densely populated island nation- and because they wanted dominion over the Pacific.

Originally posted by The Burning Legion:
^^As already said, D-Day was launched to liberate France. By D-Day, Italy had already been liberated.

So I messed up the date, but, still, did we not help liberate Italy?

The US having liberated Italy does not in any way mean that Italy must approve of the US's present day actions.