Posted
16th July 2001
Paranoia Or Prudenc
e Italy has installed a missile defence system at Genoa's airport
to deter airborne attacks during next week's G8 summit, fuelling
hysteria about looming violence. However, it may not be hysterical
paranoia, the global economy's political supporters are losing
the PR war they started back in the late 70's. The polticians
could well be heading the old maxim, `sow the wind and reap
the whirlwind'.
A
land-based battery of rockets with a range of nine miles and
an altitude of 5,000 feet has been positioned in the latest
security measure against perceived threats from terrorists and
protesters. Unidentified planes, helicopters and balloons risk
being shot down should they drift too close to the heads of
state from the group of seven leading industrialised nations
and Russia. Colonel Alberto Battaglini, of the ministry of defence,
said the precaution was not excessive. "The measure, which was
planned by the previous government, may seem open to criticism,
but in reality it is merely to act as a deterrent against any
aerial incursion during the summit. "They are little missiles
... which only have a deterrent function to discourage any aerial-led
attack and they do not present any danger to the residents of
the city," he said. The missile system, dubbed Spada, was erected
along Italy's Adriatic coast during Nato's 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia.
More than 100,000 anti-globalisation demonstrators are expected
to converge on the northern port city during the July 20-22
summit. Keen to avoid the chaos of Gothenburg, Prague and Seattle,
the Italians will strive for maximum control by deploying thousands
of riot police, snipers and bomb disposal teams.
Yesterday
Otto Schilly, Germany's interior minister, said Italy would
resurrect internal European Union border controls to block protesters
from entering the country. "I presume Italy will abandon the
Schengen accord during the G8 summit to prevent the arrival
of troublemakers." Authorities have reportedly ordered 200 body
bags, established a temporary morgue at a hospital and arranged
counselling for potentially traumatised police officers. The
airport, port and access roads will be sealed off and some leaders
will be hosted on ships in case street battles threaten their
safety. Most of the groups of activists - whose causes include
environment and debt forgiveness for poor countries - have pledged
peaceful tactics but the authorities are nervous. Fringe groups
have pledged violence and street clashes appear inevitable.
Unsourced
stories of terrorist weapon hoards and sachets of HIV-infected
blood have appeared in the Italian media, stoking an atmosphere
of doom. The millionaire terrorist, Osama bin Laden, has been
linked to an alleged plot to assassinate the US president, George
Bush. Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has inspected
Genoa twice and declared himself satisfied with the security.
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