At recent statements of Chief of EMS General C.A. Parachutist Carmine Masiello in the parliamentary commission on the problems generated by the 'Strade Sicure' operation, is echoed by an extremely authoritative voice in the military world: that of the General C.A. (Aus.) Parachutist Incursor Marco Bertolini, now retired and current president of theANPd'I. Bertolini, with a military career spanning more than 40 years between Special Forces and Paratroopers, which has seen him engaged in theatres of war with a high, indeed, very high profile and at the highest command of the Armed Force (Commander of the 9th Regiment Col Moschin and the Folgore Parachute Brigade), Defence (Commander of the C.O.F.S. and of the Inter-Agency Summit Operations Command) and NATO (Chief of Staff of the ISAF Command in Afghanistan, the first Italian officer to hold this position), in aninterview with the Resto del Carlinoexpressed severe criticism of the operation "Safe Roadscalling it a "disaster for the Italian Army"..
The former Commander of the Folgore argues that employing the Army in territorial control tasks deprives valuable military personnel of the training and preparation necessary to operate effectively in a defined context of 'war fighting'. This type of employment, according to the General, does not conform to the very essence of the Army soldier, who would instead be under-employed, as the soldier possesses far more advanced skills than the tasks of a police officer.
General Bertolini's position is clear: "Using military force in the fight against 'street' petty crime is like using a cannon to shoot an ant".. The officer also points out that the armed forces, lacking judicial police functions, are not equipped to perform these tasks to the best of their abilitywhich should be left to the already numerous police forces with the necessary prerogatives to maintain public order.
General Bertolini also highlights the view often held by political figures, such as former Prime Minister SIlvio Berlusconi, who saw the use of the Army for public order tasks as a response to the apparent inactivity of the military in peacetime. However, the General recalls that peace is often illusory, with conflicts close to Italy's borders and missions in theatres of war requiring constant and dedicated preparation.
BrigataFolgore.net fully shares General Bertolini's position. Using soldiers for police duties, and even worse without the legal tools of the police force (General Bertolini does not mince words by calling it 'B cop'), it is like forcing, we might add, a Formula 1 driver to drive a commercial car. This practice not only de-skills military personnel, but also prevents adequate preparation for real emergency situations where the Army can and must make a real difference.
Bertolini's words are therefore an authoritative and critical voice, a call to reconsider the allocation of military resources to tasks for which they have not been trained. Without adequately trained armed forces, a country cannot be considered truly sovereign. This principle, the General argues, and which we loudly join, is essential to understanding the importance of keeping the Army engaged in tasks consistent with its core mission of national defence and management of major emergencies.
Today more than ever, with war on the doorstep of the European continent, having a well-trained Army is of paramount importance. We at BrigataFolgore.net have received numerous informal reports about the lack of time to devote to training soldiers deployed in 'Strade Sicure'. This operation, which now employs 6,800 soldiers, is a heavy burden on the Armed Force. Training is the raison d'être of the Army in peacetime and must remain so to ensure operational readiness in order to keep a nation's defence system efficient.
In conclusion, BrigataFolgore.net joins General Bertolini in criticising the misuse of the army in police operations. Territorial security and the maintenance of public order must remain the responsibility of the police force, leaving the Army free to train and prepare for the complex challenges the future may hold.