Basically the bases for the Cold War was set in Italy in 43 and 44 with arguably the first Cold War incident at Portella della Ginestra in 1947 when Salvatore Giuliano massacred over a dozen people gathered for a May Day celebration. It is now known, thanks to the opening of the NARA archives by Clinton, that Giuliano was in collusion with the American counterespionage as well as with the Decima Mas and the Italo-American mafia.
The US went on to poison the Italian Republic for decades with their collusion with ex-fascist elements and neo-fascists. The Italian eversive right wing has had a major role in US sponsored terrorism throughout Europe and South America for the past fifty years.
Many of the heirs of fascism have had long and mutually beneficial relations with Republican kingpins from Nixon to Bush, such as Licio Gelli, Michele Sindona, Francesco Pazienza, Valerio Borghese, on down to the recent Silvio Berlusconi.
There is a convenient gap between America and Italy- most often it's language and stereotypes. Italy has been a proving grounds for strategy and policy since the end of WWII. I believe it was Casey who said that everything they (CIA) did successfully in South America was first tested in Italy. Sadly, a lot of Italian lives got in the way.
Today Italy is even more important in long-term American military strategy. The Sicilian base in Sigonella is the major military base in Europe now in terms of traffic and spending. And this build-up has been going on since the 70's. That is foresight- and collusion with local power brokers.
So it's no small wonder that the Sicilian mafia has a role that far exceeds its shores.
If ever you're tempted, and have the time... (I know, I know...)
