The opposition of the Minister. The US Aviation means to install “a small squadron of five reconnaissance unmanned “Global Hawk” planes” in Sicily, McDaniel said, confirming what was anticipated by Mazzeo ten days ago, when on “Terrelibere” he revealed the existence of some Pentagon documents that indicated that the Sicilian terminal would be the destination of the new aircraft. The endorsement of the Italian government is now being awaited. And from the government itself, that is from one of its ministers, there comes a definite stance against the granting of Sigonella for the new unmanned aircraft.

 

An 'explosion of re-armament'. During last Saturday’s meeting in Marghera which was promoted by the “Sbilanciamoci” campaign, the Ministry for Public Education and University, Fabio Mussi (Democratic Left), stated that he was against the main military rearmament programmes that see Italy as a player. “We are witnessing an incredible explosion of re-armament – Mussi stated - and no-one blinks an eye. I don’t know whether the proposal to reduce the Defence budget by 20 percent is realistic, but we must certainly re-discuss the Dal Molin question in Vicenza and oppose the concession of Sigonella to the Black Hawk planes (the minister was referring to the “Global Hawk” aircraft mentioned). But most of all Italy must stand cross-wise to the acceptance of the US project of a space shield, which issue we must meet squarely”.

Through the clouds. The Global Hawk, which could be defined as an evolution of the “Predator” which was used in the Balkans, in Afghanistan and in Iraq, is a last-generation Uav (Unmanned aerial vehicle), manufactured by Northrop Grumman Ryan. It can fly for 36 hours on one full tank of fuel. It weighs 11 thousand kilograms and its wing span is bigger that that of a Boeing 737. In just 24 hours the plane is able to reconnoitre an area of 100 thousand square kilometres. Its radar “sees” through the clouds, and from an altitude of 20 thousand metres it transmits coded images by satellite to bases over half the world. Its function is to spy the enemy front, locating the targets so as to direct the attacks and the bombing.

The deputy against. An interpellation to the Ministry of Defence on the “Global Hawk” issue was presented last June by the vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies Defence committee, Elettra Deiana (Rifondazione Comunista). The interpellation has not yet been answered. “I am thinking of presenting it again in the Chamber- Deiana told Peacereporter- as soon as possible, because on these matters the strictest silence is always kept, there is no check of any kind, it is necessary to stay alert and with a telescope in hand to “intercept” the decisions. There is no session where it is possible to check on the decisional process, not even the Defence committee”. Does she agree with Mussi? “I am much more critical. There is the whole big issue of the US bases in Italy, which has now been made urgent by the fact that in 2009 the NATO treaty on the bilateral agreements between the two Countries will come to an end. And, rather than reducing the Defence budget, I would direct it to reconverting the bases and a different use of the territory”.