Dear editor, as a faithful reader of Online Defense, it seems to me that I have not read anything about the change at the top of one of the most significant seats of our national defense. I refer to the recent changeover between General Carlo Magrassi who replaced General Enzo Stefanini in the post of Secretary General and National Armaments Director.
Perhaps passed a bit on the sly also given the reserved nature of the outgoing general and the sober tone of the ceremony, mirror of a personal character, praised in his speech also by the Minister of Defense Pinotti. Obviously praise and appreciation of esteem towards the general to whom I feel I have to join.
The occasion of this change in office made me reflect on the fact, however, that gen. Carlo Magrassi will perhaps be the last manager to boast both of these titles (General secretary e National Armaments Director). In the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 25 September, Minister Pinotti, in addition to appointing General Magrassi, also conferred the position of Deputy Military Secretary General to gen. Nicolò Falsaperna.
Dr. is still in the position of deputy civil general secretary. Franco Massi.
This one would say is the fact, but often the facts are also the sparks to reflect on something more complex and interesting that will then involve many employees in this sector which is so important and significant for our country.
To reflect on some ideas, I refer to the words spoken by Minister Pinotti on that occasion "(omitted) ...today we are still changing the Secretary General of Armaments, but you know that on the basis of the White Paper we thought we had two figures, this due to the evolution of the complexity that the structure is having and also because I believe that it should be valued at maximum also the civilian component of the Defense. A fundamental component and this can also be seen in the numbers that must have the possibility of development up to grades
apicals higher than those he has had so far".
Here the question that would arise is but was there not talk of efficiency, rationalization and cutting of the top figures (managers) in order to reduce expenses?
Here a figure is weakened, that of the present Secretary General and National Director of Armaments, which in some way also represented a figure of democratic equilibrium, an additional top position is created, increasing costs, and these figures are placed directly under the chief of defense, sole lord and master.
Here, then, I refer to a letter that you, the director, published by one of your readers who denounced the risk of a centralization of powers in the hands of a single figure, the chief of defense staff. This, according to the reader and considering the recent facts I can only agree, would constitute the model of a monolithic, strong and absolutely undemocratic defense structure. This is what the White Paper draws up and we are surprised that this position is supported and backed up by that political portion that has the democratic aspects of social coexistence so dear to its heart. Or is democracy a utopia to be declaimed but which cannot be declined or applied? Someone should have the courage to say it.
At the moment, according to what the head of the dicastery himself said, the only certain objective that you want to achieve and give strength to a single man, the chief of staff of defense, better if the same is aligned, increase the management posts and not reduce them, as it was stated, affirming
that the civil component must be enhanced. Here, however, one should think badly. Is it not that it is planned to place in these top and executive positions civilians, party figures and friends who have remained out of the electoral position? This may be a risk to be considered and not excluded
in our Italy.
It must also be considered that I know his path and his skills from a military leader, but no one can reassure me about the specific and suitable skills of a civilian manager who can be named from the political sphere. In Italy we have seen all sorts of things, so don't tell me that this represents an improvement and a guarantee of efficiency for the Defense sector.
The gen. Carlo Magrassi is a well-known person, also on the part of the trade unions, having held the position of head of the cabinet of ministers Mauro first and Pinotti later, and military adviser of Palazzo Chigi, first with the president Enrico Letta and recently with the president Matteo Renzi. It will be as I said the last one General secretary with the assignment of National Armaments Director, this is because the White Paper for international security and defense removes its competences from the general secretariat, attributing them to the figure of the National Director of Armaments and Logistics (DNAL), placed directly under the head of SMD. This is also a fact.
In his speech, the minister underlined the role of the Secretary General of Defense (SGD) in the process of innovation and research related to weapons materials, in the procurement of means, materials and weapons systems for the armed forces and in the support to the Italian defense industry, and also hinted at the novelties emerging from the new scenarios proposed by the White Paper regarding the future organization of the general secretariat, but he did so in a kind way, accompanied by a nice smile: "the new secretariat - said the sen. Pinotti- it will focus on administrative and management responsibilities and will see a further enhancement of civil professional skills". Some unions have commented on the word "Further", considering it inappropriate because the civil defense world does not recognize it has taken place no previous enhancement.
The real substance that emerges from the choices of the White Paper is instead another: the strong weakening of the new secretariat and, therefore, of the entire technical-administrative area, which will lose the current and substantial skills in the field of armaments and logistics, which will placed in the employ of SMD ("strong connection with the head of SMD", said Sen. Pinotti!).
This is a further step on the path that should lead to the creation of that "strong man" in the minister of defense, in the sign of the Renzi model, which few people like, especially those who are convinced of the importance of balances in democracy and precisely when it comes to the military organization, as it was designed at the time by the law of the Summits (Law 2.12.1962, n. 25) that today the choices of the White Book will overturn.
It is good that the President of the Republic takes note of these strong democratic deficits potentially contained in the White Paper and the next Supreme Defense Council, who has convened for 21 October, according to the agencies, ask Minister Pinotti and perhaps even the Chief of Defense Staff to account for it. Could the President, in his capacity as the highest guarantor of those democratic freedoms so dear to us Italian citizens, ask that the indications illustrated in the White Paper be implemented through a proxy law, which then faces a parliamentary process that would certainly guarantee popular scrutiny and democratic.
We are accustomed to subterfuges and pitfalls, but it is not certain that they are welcome.
Dear Giuseppe, I have published your letter, choosing it from several that have come to me on the same subject, because it is the one that best sums up a widespread malaise among military and civil defense personnel but also among simple "careful" fellow citizens.
Personally, I am not against the centralization of decision-making power if guaranteed by competence and love for the country. In this case who better than a soldier who has greeted the flag every morning for forty years could do it ?! I am certainly against the "subterfuges" you mentioned to get the rules changed. If we are clear, convincing and coherent, who could oppose a change dictated by the search for greater efficiency?
In the letter, however, he warned about many other aspects egit would be interesting to get the necessary reassurance from the interested parties.
I asked to interview the offices indicated in the letter.
The newspaper is now close to one million visits a month and is - clearly - the first defense journal in Italy. Let's see what the prime minister or chief of staff will be of Defense to want to answer your questions?
It would be a demonstration of pragmatism, intelligence, courage and above all humility. Rare commodity in times of abyss between leadership and citizenship in the country ...
Andrea Cucco
