Italy’s common-sense approach to surveillance would work in Britain too, argues edward luttwak |
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From 2001 to 2006 Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi did everything possible to provoke Islamist terrorists. He loudly and frequently proclaimed his devotion to George Bush, sent thousands of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, and often boasted that he was Israel's best friend in Europe.
After September 11, 2001, he missed no opportunity to denounce not only al-Qaeda but also Hamas and Hezbollah.
Given Italy's vulnerabilities, all this provocation was quite unnecessary. To begin with, Italy's illegal immigration is completely out of control. In the UK, illegals mostly come legally and then overstay. In Italy that happens too but, in addition, illegals comfortably cross on foot from Slovenia or pay for the brief passage from Tunisia on a Sicilian fishing boat.
Also, Italy is blessed with an abundance of extremist political parties. Al-Qaeda as well
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| Berlusconi’s provocations failed to bring on the terrorist attacks that would have ensued in Britain |
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as Hamas and Hezbollah can count on the sympathy of the ultra-ultra left because they are anti-American, and of the ultra-right because they are anti-Jewish. Thus Islamist terrorists have quite a few political supporters in Italy, a real rarity in Britain.
Finally, Italy has three different forms of organised crime plus a civic culture remarkably disrespectful of the law; even common criminals are armed with fully automatic weapons and explosives.
This combination of vulnerabilities and political provocation should have made Italy the scene of terrorist attacks and mass-murder spectaculars. Instead nothing happened. Why? Or, to be more precise, what did not happen and why? For terrorists certainly tried to stage attacks, but they were invariably foiled, mostly in their early stages.
One would think that British security agencies would have descended on Italy to find out how it was done. But apart from the routine exchange of intelligence, and a certain degree of liaison, they have not.
Whatever the reason, it is time to  |
