In the throes of growing irritation, I hoped it was a buffalo but as the hours passed I had to change my mind: they were not.
First news: the President of the Council "thanked Minister Trenta for having renounced the purchase of five rifles and earmarked the amount saved for a scholarship for peace" (v.video) sponsored by an unidentified World House. objection "What will those five soldiers do without a gun?" the prime minister commented sarcastically: "They will go to the rear to talk about peace".
Those present laughed. My stomach tightened and my thoughts even before the Italian soldier went to some political figures of the past: De Nicola, Andreotti, Berlinguer, Almirante, Craxi, Cossiga ... and I imagined their jolt in hearing this unspeakable comment , offensive to all the soldiers and irreverent towards those fallen by holding a gun.
It is undeniable that in the political class that governs Italy there is no lack of valid figures, mediocre people abound and there are not a few nullities, but it is still difficult to accept such positions taken by members of the government. That the "savings" already provided at the expense of the skimpy defense budget (a balance, let's not forget, that is equivalent in both absolute and percentage terms to less than 50% of the French, English, etc.) the superficial and miserable dimension of this initiative is indeed unacceptable. Summing up it can be assumed that the Minister Trenta also wants to go ideally beyond the 500 million euros she already "diverted" to other ministries and even over a billion that is intended to be withdrawn annually from the defense budget to establish and manage a water service national. It is news of the last hour that we must also renounce the air defense of our skies because there is no money either to replace our ancient missile defense system or to honor the commitments signed with the allies for the purchase of F35. Incidentally: payment of the indemnities due to soldiers employed in "Safe Streets" and missions continues from month to month dual-use similar.
The second news "unbelievable" concerns the ministerial decision to dedicate the next 2 June parade to the theme "inclusion". What does inclusion have to do with the parade on June 2 God only knows, but after the slogan "Armed Forces of Peace" adopted last year, it is no wonder more than anything, and the least that can be expected is that next year June 2 will be dedicated to relaunching the vocations of the Discalced Carmelites or, alternatively, to the theme "free current for all, including the defaulters who use it to organize drug parties". I hope to be understood if as an Italian who has chosen to wear a uniform you ask our political class not to insist on offending, mortifying and burying the Armed Forces. It would make me happy if the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces did not remain insensitive to the cry of pain of the Italian soldier and would come out of a deafening silence to raise his authoritative voice in a work of moral action towards a political class that is clearly fasting on the subject . President, with these "things not to believe" we have hit rock bottom ... and unfortunately they are not hoaxes.
General Nicolò Manca (formerly the first Sardinian commander of the "Sassari" Brigade)
PS Mindful of my tendency to exercise, when necessary, the virtue of disobedience, a virtue of which I gave proof when I was on duty, I confess to having immediately thought that if I had been in command of the "Sassari" I would have plotted and given orders to make parade a block of company with five men without weapons and to interrupt the hymn Dimonios, hymn born under my period of command, in correspondence of the tribune of honor of the authorities. It would have been an honor to be sanctioned for this act of disobedience ... and I think I wouldn't even have turned to the unions, those wanted by the Minister Trenta, for an office defense ...
Photo: Presidency of the Council of Ministers
