In some Roman environments the air of these months must have become really unbearable. Probably those who hoped for a healthy breath of oxygen, felt again that strange and unpleasant feeling also known as "air hunger". The soldiers of our country are gasping: they hoped that the miraculous political disappearance of Pinotti would give back light and hope to the Ministry of Defense and instead we are headed.
The defense has hit the bottom with the Minister Trenta: a misfortune, a cataclysm like the rest was the rise to power of a nice company of beginners without either art or part.
"It's impossible to do worse" - the vulgate said after the elections - and instead they did it and, alas, they haven't finished yet.
Now comes the news of the inquisition open to the detriment of Brigadier General Paolo Riccò who, on the occasion of the 25 April demonstrations in Viterbo, made behind the front with his squad after hearing slanderous accusations about the work of the army in Afghanistan. Being the president of ANPI on the day of liberation is an important responsibility, a stage on which the role of the protagonist must necessarily be played; this, however, does not authorize one to say of sound cretinate, but above all does not authorize to throw mud on an institution like the army that so many lives have given for the liberation of the peninsula.
Sometimes it seems as if the word "peace" and "freedom" mean bad things about the army when it is exactly the opposite, because "peace and freedom" have been guaranteed by men wearing uniforms several times.
What is claimed is not an unconditional veneration of the military - far from doing it because even among them there are bad apples that are not worthy of the uniform they wear (see carabinieri from the Cucchi affairs) - but respect is necessary, but above all an historical and objective examination on what our army was.
What is asked, we add, is that the seat of defense minister may one day be occupied by a person who has studied the history of the institution he represents. It is not enough, in fact, to put on a camouflage jacket or to have spent a few months as an officer of the reserve selected in the operating theater to define oneself a "soldier". The world would also be full of Iron Man or Thor - seeing that they go crazy Avangers!
But to the wary minister something must have happened, because during the first days of his mandate he held an almost dignified behavior, although the writer never believed in it. Then the cuts began, the excuses, items of expenditure totally unrelated to the world of defense which, as if by magic, became necessary to increase the budget item.
The sect or movement to which it belongs has evidently begun to put pressure on it to call it back blindly. Otherwise it cannot be explained how a minister failed to utter a word when Mr. Salvini - he is the one who is true Avanger - he began to give orders to generals and admirals, openly noting his skills and anything else.
Now we are delighted by the inquiry into General Riccò (v.intervista) who, although he chose a profession where discipline and silence are fundamental requisites for a fast career, he preferred to express his disappointment openly after being publicly offended.
Claiming that Italian soldiers in Afghanistan have massacred civilians and non-Taliban is an act of accusation that cries out for revenge, but above all it is a slander that deserves at least a lawsuit from the minister. And instead? What's now? We investigate who has had the audacity to safeguard his dignity and that of his men.
It is disarming to witness the disintegration of such an important dicastery on which men who have consecrated their lives to a difficult profession depend, which implies many sacrifices and no recognition.
If the ministry shuns profitable military investments for its soldiers, then - politely - invest in books for its officials!
Photo: Ministry of Defense
