The Prime Minister's spokesman said the testimony yesterday was the Mafia's "completely logical" revenge against the Prime Minister for his "determined" fight against organised crime. Dell'Utri told the court that neither he nor Mr Berlusconi had Mafia connections. "It's in the interest of the Mafia to force the collapse of the Berlusconi government because this government has done the most in the fight against organised crime," he said.
Dell'Utri told the court that neither he nor Mr Berlusconi had Mafia connections. "It's in the interest of the Mafia to force the collapse of the Berlusconi government because this government has done the most in the fight against organised crime," he said.
Mr. Berlusconi's governments have always done everything possible to favour the mafia through legislation, hate campaigns against the judiciary, and severly limiting resources for police forces and investigators.
The success of investigators and law enforcers in the capture of mafia bosses- just today Gianni Nicchi and Gaetano Fidanzati, Domenico Raccuglia last week- is due entirely to their own effort above and beyond the call of duty, with investigative tools such as wiretapping that Berlusconi is actively seeking to prevent usage in most investigations.
The top secret police unit Catturandi had to fork out gas and meals money to capture Provenzano in advance. After two years they had yet to be paid back. Thus is the consideration and esteem Mr. Berlusconi reserves for law enforcers.
Today, as always, the minister of the interior- or any sundry flunky in his stead- claims these captures as a consequence of their efforts. It is worth noting that both the major mafia bosses Provenzano and Guttadauro had always suggested to their political allies to adopt an anti-mafia political stance so as to act more freely in the shadow. Of course, a malicious tongue may note that the capture of a mafia boss might comfort Berlusconi's sleep since a powerful mafia would have the capacity to retaliate for broken promises.
Michael Day might consider reading one of Berlusconi's favorite books, The Prince, with which Berlusconi shot off his political career. He stamped a limited edition of The Prince allegedly annotated by Napoleon Bonaparte to distribute to his closest collaborators in his new adventure. It was actually an 18th forgery by Maurice Joly. Very fitting for a man of his depth. It can be bought on line.
...month.
By the way, who remained at the top? From Wikipedia, it seems only Matteo Messina Denaro and the Riina sons. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
