Italian Police Hold 15 in Leftist Raids

[Judi Lynn]

Feb 12, 3:33 PM EST

Italian Police Hold 15 in Leftist Raids
By FRANCES D'EMILIO

ROME (AP) -- Police conducted raids across northern Italy on Monday, breaking up a leftist militant group that was allegedly planning kidnappings or kneecappings of victims to finance its plots, Milan prosecutors said. Police said they arrested 15 suspects in Milan, Turin, Padua and other northern Italian cities.

"We prevented dangerous persons who considered themselves in war with this state from carrying out violent actions," Prosecutor Ilda Boccassini told a news conference in Milan.

The militants, in devising plans to finance their group, were divided among themselves whether to carry out kidnappings for ransom or to kneecap victims to try to force them to reveal where they kept their money, Boccassini said.

Police said the group had ideological ties to the Red Brigades movement, which terrorized Italy in the 1970s and 1980s.
(snip/...)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ITALY_MILITANTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-02-12-15-33-46

[manic expression]

1. Real shame all around

leftists engaging in actions that isolate them from the proletariat.

I question their tactics strongly (although I realize that class struggle isn't a tea party).

[billyoc]

2. Not to mention their business acumen.

I don't see kneecapping as a profit center, somehow. :eyes:

[manic expression]

3. That's true

although you can get someone's money by threatening to practically cripple them. I hear it works for loansharks.

[LanternWaste]

4. Regardless of political affiliation

Regardless of political affiliation, violence should *always* be regarded as the last choice, last resort and last chance. Have they leered nothing from Gandhi and M.L. King?

Kneecappings? Kidnappings? How "progressive" of them. :sarcasm: How dare those bastards attempt to co-opt (or at least speak of/for) progressive ideology.

[manic expression]

5. One thing

When the "Red Front" ("Rot Front", IIRC) did this stuff in the 70's and 80's in Germany, they oftentimes targeted former Nazis who were making killings on the new capitalist system.

Their most high-profile action was the kidnapping and murder of an extremely wealthy businessman, who just happened to be a former officer in the SS. That should be considered in situations such as these.

and on edit, I'm not promoting or justifying it (see my post up-thread), I'm just adding to the discussion

[Judi Lynn]

6. The Berlusconi-owned Italian news media might be trying to push that story

and to sweep this one under the rug:

Angered by U.S. base plan, far leftists in Italy's government threaten to vote against Afghan mission
The Associated PressPublished: January 18, 2007

ROME: Lawmakers from the far left in Italy's governing coalition have threatened to vote against refinancing the country's mission in Afghanistan on Thursday, two days after denouncing the government's acceptance of a U.S. request to expand a military base in northern Italy.

The rebellion within Premier Romano Prodi's coalition could put him in a tough spot: his government relies on a slim parliamentary majority to pass legislation, and Prodi is vulnerable to opposition allegations that he does not have support from his own allies.

"In Afghanistan we're facing a losing strategy and Italy must have the strength and the autonomy to reopen a discussion," Paolo Cento, undersecretary for the economy and a leader of the radical leftist Green Party, told The Associated Press.

A political analyst said radical leftists had turned their attention to this battle after they failed to stop the expansion of the U.S. military base in Vicenza — a plan that had been agreed upon by the previous Italian administration.
(snip/...)

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/18/europe/EU-GEN-Italy-Afghanistan.php

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After what I've seen from right-wing-controlled news sources, I wouldn't say the original post is absolutely guaranteed to be true. Could be complete hooey!