Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on May 31, 2004, 10:19:19 AM
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Not....
Too many more Euro's don't feel this way, we'd might actually make some more progress:
ROME (Reuters) - President Bush is often misunderstood by those who do not know him personally and are unaware of his sensitive side, Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in a television interview on Sunday.
"He's a normal man, absolutely open to everyone's feelings. He's a family man, a husband, a father of two children who he loves very much. He's someone absolutely like us," Berlusconi, who revels in the role as Bush's closest European ally behind British prime minister Tony Blair, told RAI3's Telecamere.
"He has very deep feelings, especially for the U.S. victims (in Iraq) ... his pain is deep."
Ahead of Bush's visit to Italy next Friday, which some opponents of the Iraq war have vowed to disrupt, Berlusconi defended U.S. pre-emptive military action in the Middle East.
"The West isn't the aggressor, we must always remember this," Berlusconi said in an interview recorded on Saturday, before the hostage drama in Saudi Arabia in which an Italian cook was killed.
"The real weapon of mass destruction in Iraq was Saddam Hussein -- and he was found."
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2004053019130002867169&dt=20040530191300&w=RTR&coview=
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would that be THIS Italian Prime Minister? ie the scumbag who's going on trial for corruption and bribery?
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Italian PM's fraud trial resumes
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has gone back on trial on corruption charges after an immunity law was rejected earlier this year.
He is accused of trying to bribe judges to influence a business deal.
Hearings began in Milan in front of a new panel of judges, which is expected to take two months to wade through evidence collected over three years.
The charges are the most serious Mr Berlusconi has faced in nearly 10 years of investigations.
Mr Berlusconi's lawyer, Nicolo Gheddini, told the BBC he hoped the trial would be "wrapped up as soon as possible".
"Seeing as the verdict will be positive, we're really not afraid," he said.
"Although obviously to have a prime minister on trial is never a positive thing," he added.
Colleague cleared
Prosecutors allege Mr Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, tried to scupper the takeover of state-owned food group SME by a rival firm in the 1980s, before he entered politics.
The prime minister firmly denies any wrongdoing in the case and says left-wing magistrates are trying to undermine him.
His trial was blocked in June last year after parliament passed government-backed legislation granting the prime minister and other top office holders immunity from prosecution.
Critics accused the government of introducing the immunity bill to save Mr Berlusconi from the embarrassing possibility of a conviction while Italy was chairing the presidency of the European Union.
Mr Berlusconi had already attended court in Milan to give evidence in his defence.
The prime minister's trial was halted, but proceedings continued for other defendants in the same case.
A close associate of the premier, Cesare Previti, was cleared of charges of bribery, but received a five-year sentence for putting cash in the pocket of a Rome judge to maintain friendly relations.
He is now appealing against this verdict.
In January, the Constitutional Court ruled that the law violated Italy's constitution.
Competing issues
The re-start of the trial is now another headache for the Berlusconi government.
It seems the verdict could fall at the most inauspicious time, coinciding with European elections in June.
Mr Berlusconi's supporters think this is no coincidence.
"The purpose of this trial is to damage the prime minister before the elections begin," said Senator Lucio Malan from the prime minister's Forza Italia party.
"But this trial is an opportunity for us to sort this out... I'm not worried."
Mr Berlusconi's ruling centre-right coalition, already dogged by bitter infighting, has been further strained by the Parmalat scandal and a struggling economy.
The premier now finds himself under attack for failing to deliver on election promises and for his continued support for the war in Iraq in face of anti-war domestic opinion.
But there is a question mark over how damaging the trial will prove for the Italian premier.
To see politicians, even the prime minister, on trial is nothing new for Italians and many analysts suggest that, in the light of the current hostage crisis in Iraq, the Italian people have other things on their minds..
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Corruption in European politics is very much the norm I am told by a German lawyer.
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More so called Euros do feel this way than you many of you seem to believe. Try and remember that the Anti Americans in Europe are a minority and as often as not anti EU, anti their own government, anti capitalist etc etc. Most of them seem to be angst ridden, privileged sons and daughters of the middle classes rebelling against their bourgeous parents. Then there's the usual whinging left wingers who never let the facts interfere with their rants. They only represent themselves.
But being anti Bush is not the same as anti American as one or two have pointed out. As I said in another thread I think he's a good guy but a poor president
I would suggest that many people, if not most in Europe are pro American generally but critical of Bush and aspects of American foreign policy. That's just my opinion but in my experience I rarely hear much anti American comment but quite a lot of criticism of Bush.
I can only really speak of Ireland though but I meet many Europeans on a daily basis too. In fact interestingly, I've noticed on my travels around this country. I would say that the second most common flag flown after the our own is the stars and stripes.
Having said that being praised by a rogue like Berlusconi is probably is not something GWB can be too proud of.
Corruption in European politics is very much the norm I am told by a German lawyer.
It isn't, your lawyer friend is exaggerating. Broad brush statements like that are as true as saying American politics is corrupt. Some countries do have a history of it. Notably Italy. But not all. Remember Europe is not a country, nobody stands proudly to salute the EU flag. We love our own countries not some Europa.
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Berlusconi, that nutcase.. I've been for a long time amazed how hes still the prime minister.
For years hes been nothing but a problem.
Originally posted by Ripsnort
Corruption in European politics is very much the norm I am told by a German lawyer.
Just as a side note, we shouldn't either forget american politics
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Originally posted by Fishu
Berlusconi, that nutcase.. I've been for a long time amazed how hes still the prime minister.
For years hes been nothing but a problem.
raven sit next to the raven
im wondering that mr. Blair is so quite lately :D
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Originally posted by _Schadenfreude_
would that be THIS Italian Prime Minister? ie the scumbag who's going on trial for corruption and bribery?
****************************************************
Italian PM's fraud trial resumes
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has gone back on trial on corruption charges after an immunity law was rejected earlier this year.
He is accused of trying to bribe judges to influence a business deal.
Hearings began in Milan in front of a new panel of judges, which is expected to take two months to wade through evidence collected over three years.
The charges are the most serious Mr Berlusconi has faced in nearly 10 years of investigations.
Mr Berlusconi's lawyer, Nicolo Gheddini, told the BBC he hoped the trial would be "wrapped up as soon as possible".
"Seeing as the verdict will be positive, we're really not afraid," he said.
"Although obviously to have a prime minister on trial is never a positive thing," he added.
Colleague cleared
Prosecutors allege Mr Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, tried to scupper the takeover of state-owned food group SME by a rival firm in the 1980s, before he entered politics.
The prime minister firmly denies any wrongdoing in the case and says left-wing magistrates are trying to undermine him.
His trial was blocked in June last year after parliament passed government-backed legislation granting the prime minister and other top office holders immunity from prosecution.
Critics accused the government of introducing the immunity bill to save Mr Berlusconi from the embarrassing possibility of a conviction while Italy was chairing the presidency of the European Union.
Mr Berlusconi had already attended court in Milan to give evidence in his defence.
The prime minister's trial was halted, but proceedings continued for other defendants in the same case.
A close associate of the premier, Cesare Previti, was cleared of charges of bribery, but received a five-year sentence for putting cash in the pocket of a Rome judge to maintain friendly relations.
He is now appealing against this verdict.
In January, the Constitutional Court ruled that the law violated Italy's constitution.
Competing issues
The re-start of the trial is now another headache for the Berlusconi government.
It seems the verdict could fall at the most inauspicious time, coinciding with European elections in June.
Mr Berlusconi's supporters think this is no coincidence.
"The purpose of this trial is to damage the prime minister before the elections begin," said Senator Lucio Malan from the prime minister's Forza Italia party.
"But this trial is an opportunity for us to sort this out... I'm not worried."
Mr Berlusconi's ruling centre-right coalition, already dogged by bitter infighting, has been further strained by the Parmalat scandal and a struggling economy.
The premier now finds himself under attack for failing to deliver on election promises and for his continued support for the war in Iraq in face of anti-war domestic opinion.
But there is a question mark over how damaging the trial will prove for the Italian premier.
To see politicians, even the prime minister, on trial is nothing new for Italians and many analysts suggest that, in the light of the current hostage crisis in Iraq, the Italian people have other things on their minds..
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Is the final verdict in? You guys crack me up.:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
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"It is common practice in Italy to also laugh about holocaust stories."
Berlusconi statement according to Der Spiegel 28/2003, p. 96"
Ripsnort you really should think twice before copy/pasting your crap :D
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Don't give any credit to what Berlusconi say; he's a liar; the clock is ticking ..... his time has gone.
I hope we can send home Mr. Berlusclown.
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Hey Nibbio,
What happened to the Italian Porn Star that got elected to the government there? Nothing to do with this - just out of curisoity.
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Inside of Italy, an endorsement from Berlusconi is no endorsement. Outside of Italy, it's a liability.
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Originally posted by Jester
Hey Nibbio,
What happened to the Italian Porn Star that got elected to the government there? Nothing to do with this - just out of curisoity.
Mussolini's granddaughter IIRC she ran for the Fascist Party.
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Nope; He's talking about Cicciolina (http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/cicciolina/), not about Alessandra Mussolini.
btw latter was a republican... :aok
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so when italian guys on the board criticize American politicians we should ignore them?
Seems every country has it's problems but you would never know it... heck...you woudn't even know other countries had politicians... the guys on this board are so ashamed of theirs they can only talk about ours.
lazs
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Might have something to do with US politics leaking outside it's borders :D
Besides not even italians really like Berlusconi nowadays... makes a big difference.
No need to argue about him :D
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Hey Nibbio,
What happened to the Italian Porn Star that got elected to the government there? Nothing to do with this - just out of curisoity.
Yes you mean "cicciolina" or Ilona Staller
That was a "boutade" made from Radical party; she never had a ny intention to participate in political life, after some months she ceased doing politics(lol) and she returned to her interests......well you know what i'm talking of:D
Mussolini's grandaughter has left from "Alleanza nazionale" , that is the heir of fascist party, (now a little bit more democrat), to found a more extremist right wing party.
so when italian guys on the board criticize American politicians we should ignore them?Seems every country has it's problems but you would never know it... heck...you woudn't even know other countries had politicians... the guys on this board are so ashamed of theirs they can only talk about ours.
lazs2 , are you are referring to what I wrote here?
Mine was only my judgement on Mr Berlusconi, not more.
I'm not ashamed of nothing regarding my Country even if I ,for first, have many things to criticise;
You can criticise whenever you want Italian politicians, as we are free to criticise others one, I don't see any problem in this:confused:
As you say, seems every country has its problem, this is really true, but can everyone accept critics whithout falling in whining??