Newsgroup: it.politica
Titolo: [ESCLUSIVO] Armi italiane

Reciprocal Boost for Israel and Italy in Joint Weapons Production
DEBKAfile Special Report
Italy's military electronics, aircraft and military industries are preparing 
to take off - boosted by heavy injections of American and Israeli expertise.
The Bush administration has approved cooperation arrangements between 
Israeli and Italian military, aircraft and electronic industries in the 
manufacture of weapons systems for electronic warfare and surveillance based 
partly on American technology.
This move has four far-reaching aspects for the European Union's internal 
dynamic and Israel's standing in that continent:
1. Washington is intent on deploying a new US-Italian-Israel front in the 
vanguard of upcoming Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic moves before Europe 
steps into the peacemaking initiatives projected for 2005 and 2006. This 
will fortify Italy as America's staunchest supporter in Europe in relation 
to the EU, especially France.
2. Rome, rather than the EU, figures on the Bush game board as the foremost 
bulwark of America's long-range strategic plans for East Europe, chiefly 
Poland, after the relocation to that country of US bases evacuated from 
Germany. Washington is in the process of building up ties between Israel and 
Poland. (Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz spent three days in Warsaw at 
the beginning of last week.) Rome is down as the hub for channeling and 
supervising those interchanges.
3. The Bush White House is keen on cutting Italy in on the security-military 
steps agreed by the Palestinians and Israelis for the interim period. The 
British are already setting up security operational centers and organizing 
Palestinian intelligence bodies on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (British 
foreign secretary Jack Straw worked on these arrangements during his visit 
to Palestinian areas on Wednesday, November 24.) President George W. Bush 
wants to see Italian military and intelligence players in Palestinian areas 
alongside the British, thereby replicating the US-led coalition set-up in 
Iraq.
4. By promoting Israel-Italian military industrial collaboration, Bush 
applies a much-needed stimulant to the Italian and Israeli economies alike. 
Both depend heavily on full employment in their military and electronic 
industries for export revenues.
On November 18, Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz met Italian prime 
minister Silvio Berlusconi and defense chief Antonio Martino. They announced 
the joint allocation of $181 million for "the development of a new 
electronic warfare system designed to disable enemy aircraft over a wide 
swath of airspace."
According to DEBKAfile's military sources, this terse description applies to 
a weapon Israel has already developed for jamming the navigation, computers, 
signals and firing systems of a potential enemy's bomber-fighter, thereby 
disabling pilot and ground control.
That is only one element covered by the top-secret transaction; it also 
entails a broad range of missiles as well as electronic warfare systems for 
land, air and naval forces. The two governments agreed to join forces both 
in the manufacture and the marketing of these advanced military products.
Another key clause provides for close intelligence collaboration in 
combating terrorism.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Italy's military and electronics industry 
was capable of innovative weapons manufacture but lacked professional 
know-how. Its electronic warfare production was stunted by shortage of 
capital for research and development.
With the newly-acquired expertise, Berlusconi hopes to extend the lead Italy's 
electronic industry already has over its European competitors in Britain, 
Germany, France and Spain.
The partnership deal will have an impact beyond the purely industrial. It 
carries great potential for enhancing Italy's economic and political profile 
inside Europe and tilting the continental balance of military and industrial 
power in its favor. Bush's strategists are glad to reward Italy for standing 
square with Washington on Iraq and the global war on terror.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly's military experts say the partnership could open out to 
embrace Germany and alleviate its economic problems. Berlusconi has strong 
influence over German leader Gerhard Schroeder, but the politically weak 
chancellor may be wary of cultivating too close a relationship with one of 
Washington's best friends in Europe and in any case would be reluctant to 
advertise it. Berlin already maintains active military and intelligence ties 
with Israel but is at great pains to keep them under wraps. Many Germans see 
in Israel a militaristic country that wantonly represses the Palestinians. 
At the same time, Schroeder is perfectly aware that German industry has 
everything to gain from an infusion of advanced military industrial 
technology.
The Sharon government, which is plagued by high unemployment, is more than 
willing to work with Italy on joint military industrial projects. It will be 
the first time Israel's military and defense industries are accepted on 
level terms by a major West European power since the days of close 
Israeli-French security cooperation, especially in the nuclear field, in the 
1950s.
-- 
Gianfranco nel Mese XLIX dell'E.B.
Anno V dell' E.B.
67 D.B. 2004 D.C.
Proud member of
www.silvioberlusconifansclub.org
http://www.italiansforgeorgewbush.com/
http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com/
http://www.comitatoscienzaevita.it/
Alle elezioni 2006 Vota CDL Scrivi Berlusconi!
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 the 1950s.
E mň nun te vergogni che hai fatto piagne a Gesů Bambino?