Vicenza: Commies, Pro-Americans Stage Counter Protests in U.S. Air Base Tiff

In the past few days Pro-Americans (above: "A friendship that brings well-being") and the Italian Communists (below: "Shame on You!") have sparred over Uncle Sam's desire to expand its airfield in Vicenza. The Vicenza airbase is a Nato forward-operating base, and close to 70% of the munitions dropped during the war in Kosovo originated in Vicenza. To the Commies disapproval, Prodi, on Friday, gave the U.S. the go-ahead and the base will be expanded. As I type, a mass sit-in is taking place in the Italian Parliament led by Il Partito di Rifondazione Communista and I Verdi, the Communists and the Greens. Prodi, however, is unlikely to reverse his position.