"Lost opportunity. Too bad!"

(To Marco Bertolini)
03/05/19

Pulled by the jacket, the Minister of Defense Trenta finally intervened on the matter of the 25 April in Viterbo. He did so with an admirable exercise in circle bottismo, expressing esteem for General Riccò but associating him anyway with the President of the local ANPI in the accusation of having adopted "behavior inappropriate to the context of the celebrations", with the consequent risk of exploitation.

With regard to the news reported by the Journal about an alleged investigation against the Commander of the AVES, he wanted to specify that "No investigation has been opened, but as required by law, the competent military authorities will have to initiate a fact-finding procedure". In other words, an investigation.

Finally, as an experienced soldier, he packed a good fervor with our soldiers who risk sacrificing their lives, etc. .. etc. ..

Sin. He missed a good opportunity to show respect for the Armed Forces that, outside the limited circle of his collaborators - certainly more informed than us - so far there has not been a great way to appreciate, to what I am told.

Because you see, Madam Minister, no accident has occurred that requires the initiation of investigations by the military authorities, and among men of honor a simple phone call to Gen. should be enough to hear his story and to congratulate him on the elegance with which he took away the units under his responsibility to an odious exploitation. Among men of honor, I said, although perhaps you do not believe so much in that honor, since you have hailed as a great result the trade union mordia that is about to fall on the Armed Forces precisely to limit the authority of the command line. Ah, I forgot, there are rights!

However, rights or setbacks, the instrumentalization was already in place when the Presidio Commander took his decision, given that the condescending inertia of an armed department forced to put up a tirade against itself, would be interpreted as an admission of guilt, unacceptable. One wonders which genetic mutation has intervened in our society if any politician can take advantage of the microphone to shoot at chained balls absurd accusations against the military, perhaps with the claim that one listens to him, without a Minister of Defense does not put on to scream like an eagle covering it with insects.

Riccò did well, therefore, and had an admirable courage and moral righteousness, as a reward, other than investigations. Because he sees, for a man "conditioned" from the Academy to obey it takes really a lot of courage to choose the uncomfortable road he has taken. And now it takes courage for a military man to endure an unpleasant media exposure, which one of his cazziatone to the "anpino" speaker would have nipped in the bud. And this confirms that the ethics to which our personal manager is educated is still the same as always. A consolation not just for the (semi) old people like me who assist from the outside to an incredible, until recently, the work of dismantling the most reliable institution in Italy.

Having said that, I would like to know what "checks" will be activated against the ANPI, an association that frames above all gentlemen who do not seem to me by age - except for rare exceptions due to the registry office - back from the days of the '45. Nor do I believe that they are in the association for having given their para-military service in some band to the spot in these last decades. At least I hope. As for the speaker himself, he did not seem to me to be a ninety-year-old man who had suffered from age and glorious wounds, and he stood boldly on his feet, while he was showing off his speech. An assessment will do it on him, please. Who knows that he may not discover that further economies can be achieved by consequently reducing the generous financial contributions to the ANPI as a whole, far superior to those reserved for real arms associations.

To conclude with an off-topic comment (?), There would be a lot of indignation, if the category of "indignados" were not already occupied and manned in force, of the fact that a party like November 4th, that of the Victory of all Italians for instance, has been canceled for many years, while that of the 25 April, which recalls the prevalence of a part of them against another non-negligible part of the same, continues to enjoy a surprising health for an almost eighty year old. Indeed, there would also be to reflect on the fact that the more time passes the more the surviving celebration in question is ideologised and produces a gap between Italians that in the immediate post-war period was unimaginable, even if they had thrown themselves up until a few years before. Perhaps, and I say maybe, because they knew the truth better than us.

I give you an idea, if you allow me. Join the initiative of the Arms Associations, that of the Trabucco Committee, e propose the return of the 4th November as National Day, moving the 25 April to the nearest Sunday. It will make a lot of people angry, no doubt, but you will earn the gratitude of your subordinates.

Photo: Ministry of Defense