The Mafia declares war on the Italian government

[Alidar Jarok]

This technically qualifies as old news by the standards with which we judge news, but it's new news to me, since I only found out about it last week (and I haven't seen anything about it on the boards). It's not something I expect many Americans know about (hell, most Americans probably don't know there are other organized Italian criminal groups outside of Sicily).

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The mafia in southern Italy has declared a "war on the state", the Italian interior minister has said.

Roberto Maroni said the local mafia, the Camorra, was trying to stamp out any opposition to its criminal power.

He was speaking after the government announced it would send 500 troops to the Campania region to help police fight local crime syndicates.

The move followed last week's killings of six Africans and an Italian near Naples which are blamed on the Camorra.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Maroni described the killings of the Italian national and the immigrants from Ghana, Liberia and Togo as an "act of terrorism".

When I was in Naples, I saw a lot of Carabinieri (more or less military police) driving around in Humvees. The scary thing was that, when I returned to Rome before flying home, I saw a lot of them there too.

I haven't been able to find out more information since that article, though.

 

[Count Zero]

Well, Campania including Naples is pretty much in the hands of the Camorra. They have their share in many business branches, e.g. construction work and waste disposal. In some regions, Italy sadly resembles a failing state. There's something fundamentally wrong if you're unable to provide for waste disposal in your cities.
However, I don't think you'll solve this by having Carabinieri patrolling the streets. You'd have to destroy the organisational structure, arresting the higher-ups and finding anything you can use against their businesses in court. Unfortunately, the Italian court system is overstretched as it is. Even if it were not, it would be an enormous task.
To my knowledge, Rome isn't nearly as affected by mafia-like organisations. And the Carabinieri are mostly for show, anyway. They're not exactly suited for delicate police work.

 

[miraclefan]

WOW sounds like they need JUDGE DREDD over there! If he can't take care of the mafia there no one can.

 

[Star Wolf]

This technically qualifies as old news by the standards with which we judge news, but it's new news to me, since I only found out about it last week (and I haven't seen anything about it on the boards). It's not something I expect many Americans know about (hell, most Americans probably don't know there are other organized Italian criminal groups outside of Sicily).

Actually I think to most of us in America, Italian organized crime comes off as an old joke or a subject for period movies. Before 9/11 our concerns were on Columbian narco-terrorist and our homegrown streetgangs. I heard a report that today after Pakistan the nation which scares the US Army the most is the organized crime take over in Mexico where policia of different agencies have actual firefights with each other and they are just a step away from having police recruitment centers bombed.

 

[iguana_tonante]

This technically qualifies as old news by the standards with which we judge news, but it's new news to me, since I only found out about it last week (and I haven't seen anything about it on the boards). It's not something I expect many Americans know about (hell, most Americans probably don't know there are other organized Italian criminal groups outside of Sicily).

link

The mafia in southern Italy has declared a "war on the state", the Italian interior minister has said.

Roberto Maroni said the local mafia, the Camorra, was trying to stamp out any opposition to its criminal power.

It's just a big mouthful from the Minister of Interior. Camorra is obviously a big problem (like any vast criminal organization) and has tendrils in local government and industries. But this is just horn blowing from a minister trying to grab some attention. If you want to see Mafia declaring law on government, you should have seen the bombing campaign that killed judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. These were scary times.

However, I don't think you'll solve this by having Carabinieri patrolling the streets. [...] To my knowledge, Rome isn't nearly as affected by mafia-like organisations. And the Carabinieri are mostly for show, anyway. They're not exactly suited for delicate police work.

No, the minister is talking about actual army troops, not Carabinieri. Carabinieri are usually very effective against organized crime, they are just law enforcement officers with a military structure, nothing more. The army, on the other hand, are really not suited for that, and only for show.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I think I'm glad I missed that bombing campaign

Star Wolf, to be honest, the thing this reminded me the most of was Colombia. I doubt it's as serious (I certainly would have seen it on the front page of the paper if it was), but it came off as creepy when I heard it second hand.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I think I'm glad I missed that bombing campaign

Then you won't get the complimentary t-shirt. Hmpf.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Does the T-shirt say "I survived the bombing campaign and all I got is this stupid T-shirt"?

Or more likely "Sono sopravvissuto questa campagna e ho solo ricevuto questa maglietta stupida"

PS: Sorry about my atrocious Italian

 

[iguana_tonante]

Does the T-shirt say "I survived the bombing campaign and all I got is this stupid T-shirt"?

Or more likely "Sono sopravvissuto questa campagna e ho solo ricevuto questa maglietta stupida"

PS: Sorry about my atrocious Italian

Nah, you Italian is quite good actually. More accurate translation would be "Sono sopravvissuto alla campagna dinamitarda mafiosa e tutto quello che ho avuto e' questa stupida maglietta."

But it's actually written in the same color of the fabric. Better not to drag attention when the mafia is involved. You never know...

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Hahaha, good point there.

 

[Count Zero]

However, I don't think you'll solve this by having Carabinieri patrolling the streets. [...] To my knowledge, Rome isn't nearly as affected by mafia-like organisations. And the Carabinieri are mostly for show, anyway. They're not exactly suited for delicate police work.

No, the minister is talking about actual army troops, not Carabinieri. Carabinieri are usually very effective against organized crime, they are just law enforcement officers with a military structure, nothing more. The army, on the other hand, are really not suited for that, and only for show.

Ok, I didn't know that. I always thought the Carabinieri were more for the muscle, not for actual crime solving. I guess I relied a bit too much on anecdotal stories I've heard in which they don't come off as very bright.

 

[miraclefan]

[

[/quote]

I heard a report that today after Pakistan the nation which scares the US Army the most is the organized crime take over in Mexico where policia of different agencies have actual firefights with each other and they are just a step away from having police recruitment centers bombed.[/quote]
Since I live IN west Texas ( a little under two-hours from the border) and haveing some friends AT the border some have said they are shocked that the news media does not report on the HORRIFIC violence on the other side of the border AND the fact it's starting to come on THIS! side of the border. It really is pretty scary

 

[miraclefan]

Sorry STAR WOLF I was trying to quote you there, but it looks like I may have goofed up pressing the wrong button are something? Once again I am very SORRY!

 

[iguana_tonante]

No, the minister is talking about actual army troops, not Carabinieri. Carabinieri are usually very effective against organized crime, they are just law enforcement officers with a military structure, nothing more. The army, on the other hand, are really not suited for that, and only for show.

Ok, I didn't know that. I always thought the Carabinieri were more for the muscle, not for actual crime solving. I guess I relied a bit too much on anecdotal stories I've heard in which they don't come off as very bright.

Ah, I see. Yes, there is a vast body of jokes about Carabinieri and their allegedly slow wits, but it's more affectionate teasing than anything else. It actually springs from decades past, where the steady pay and low requirements made it a suitable job for people not too bright but willing to work hard. Besides, as you correctly pointed out, the Corps itself was intended more for population control than crime solving. But nowadays the Carabinieri is a highly professional police, with full training and investigations skill. The distinction between it and the actual State Police is for all concerned cosmetical only (that's not exactly true as they retain some separation in role, but not much).