Presidential Concern over Mastrogiacomo Negotiation Mysteries Unofficial secret service sources say "at least twice as many" Talibans released. Defence Minister Parisi fears backlash. http://www.corriere.it/english/articoli/2007/03_Marzo/22/pezzo.shtml ROME - What lies behind the vehement reaction by the US administration to the Italian government's handling of the Daniele Mastrogiacomo negotiations? And why was America's criticism followed a few hours later by censure from the British Foreign Office and the Dutch Foreign Minister?The key to interpreting the diplomatic storm that has engulfed the Italian Prime Minister's Office. In addition, Foreign Office can be found in the phrase used yesterday by a representative of the US Department of State, who expressed American "surprise" at the "concessions" made to the Talibans. What are these "concessions"?I s it just a reference to the five terrorists whose identity has been released? Or is it true, as reliable Italian sources claim, that "at least twice as many" Talibans were freed in the swap for the Repubblica correspondent? And that the list includes prominent names in Afghan terrorism? Yesterday, a member of the government admitted that "the rumour reached Italy from Afghanistan through secret service channels" and that even though "there is no confirmation for the moment", it is believed to have "a high degree of reliability". If it were true that this was case, then it would account for the move by the United States and the other countries, expressing concern for the reasons Mr. Parisi had already explained to the Prime Minister." This will start a witch hunt against foreigners in Afghanistan". If we add that management of the abduction was taken out of the hands of state operatives and entrusted to Emergency's founder, Gino Strada, it is easy to see why Mr. Parisi is furious with Mr Prodi and Mr D'Alema. "I said what I had to say to Romano", Mr. Parisi confirmed yesterday." Our secret services were able to find a route to free Mastrogiacomo but they were prevented from doing so. Now we will have to face the consequences, which could be serious". The devastating effects of the decision are already clear and the President of Italy himself is worried. Everyone knows the head of state is a stickler for form. Mr Prodi and Mr D'Alema are well aware that he would have preferred more direct, confidential handling of the case But in the event, "the government's contradictions and confusion", said Mr Parisi, in conjunction with Dr Strada's arrogant attitude towards the Italian secret services, caused "severe damage to the country's image" and a "loss of credibility" with Italy's allies. It is not known whether President Napolitano is aware of certain details which were revealed yesterday by Foreign Ministry sources. Dr Strada is said to have demanded to make the official announcement of Mr. Mastrogiacomo's release and even to have insisted on bringing him back to Italy in an Emergency aeroplane. The first request was granted to some extent but the second was turned down. In the wake of the positive outcome of the abduction, majority politicians are beginning to grumble.[Christian Democrat UDC leader Marco - Trans.] Follini, who has just endorsed Mr Prodi, said that "you cannot entrust Italy's foreign policy to Gino Strada" and that "a page needs to be turned at once".But the old page cannot be torn out and it was a fundamental one for the government's survival, according to [former Italian president, Senator Francesco - Trans.] Cossiga. He claimed "D'Alema turned to Strada because the executive was terrified that if anything happened to Mastrogiacomo, the government would fall.It has to be said that the links with Emergency are so strong that the Budget is believed to have allocated funds to the organisation". The moves by the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands received an irritated response from Mr Prodi. The Prime Minister was engaged in consultations with political parties over the electoral law and only had one-word answers for those who, like the Radical Party secretary, Francesco Nucara, asked for further clarification. "It's probably the American military", commented [Minister for Parliamentary Relations, Vannino - Trans.] Chiti, who attended the meeting." In any case", said a brusque, frowning Mr Prodi, "Washington's statement isn't official"." If it were to become official", maintains Mr Nucara, "the government would be left with no alternative to withdrawing the military contingent from Afghanistan at once. The lives of the Italian troops and civilians operating there cannot be put at risk". It is true that the American statement was made through an anonymous spokesperson and it is also true, as Mr D'Alema noted in his report to the Foreign Ministry, that "there were no significant differences" during his meeting with Dr Rice. Nevertheless, the series of chancellery statements closely resembles the letter in which alliance ambassadors attempted a few months ago to refocus Italy's presence in Afghanistan. For the government, the emergency is now on the international front. Internally, despite Mr. Berlusconi's protests at "the country's loss of credibility", Mr. Prodi should have no trouble from the Senate vote on the decree for military missions. Yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister was eager for a signal, which duly arrived in news agency bulletins: "The UDC will vote in favor of the measure". Francesco Verderami English translation by Giles Watson <http://www.watson.it> www.watson.it 22 marzo 2007 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
