{"id":4536,"date":"2025-03-15T00:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T23:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/https-brigatafolgore-net-littizzetto-inefficienza-militare-italiana\/"},"modified":"2025-03-30T04:33:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T03:33:45","slug":"luciana-littizzetto-e-il-falso-mito-dellinefficienza-militare-italiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/luciana-littizzetto-and-the-false-myth-of-italian-military-efficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"Luciana Littizzetto and the false myth of Italian military inefficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"

By this article, we mean helping Luciana Littizzetto to better understand reality<\/strong> e dispelling the false myth of Italian military inefficiency<\/strong>shedding light on a subject that is often treated superficially. We thus continue the discourse started in our previous in-depth study on the General Bertolini and Lieutenant Colonel Paglia's response to the comedian's less than honourable statements<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italy<\/strong> actively participated in all major international military operations<\/strong>conducted by the NATO<\/strong>, from theUN<\/strong> and by international coalitions<\/strong> at extremely complex theatres of operation<\/strong>. From Lebanon<\/strong> to theAfghanistan <\/strong>, from Somalia<\/strong> to theIraq<\/strong>, i Italian military<\/strong> have operated with professionalism<\/strong>, dedication<\/strong> e adaptability<\/strong> in contexts with high intensity<\/strong>often at the risk of their own lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opinions? No, facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are not opinions, but facts<\/strong>: a continuous commitment<\/strong> which has guaranteed and continues to guarantee security<\/strong> e stability<\/strong> in numerous crisis areas in the world<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving aside the wartime past, with the victory in the First World War<\/strong>the exploits of Alessandro Tandura, history's first military parachutist<\/strong>the formidable innovations of the Arditi<\/strong> and the MAS flotillas<\/strong> - that laid the foundations for modern military special forces globally<\/a> - and the heroic behaviour of the Italians at El Alamein<\/a> e Takrouna<\/strong>as well as the courage shown during the Battle of Culqualber<\/strong>episodes that earned the Italians the honour of arms from the enemy<\/a>, the contemporary history<\/strong> is equally rich in events that attest to thehigh professionalism<\/strong>, capacity<\/strong> e courage<\/strong> of Italian military<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italian soldiers in the service of others<\/strong>committed to protecting and supporting the most unfortunate<\/strong>often victims of conflicts and humanitarian crises, whose only 'fault' is to have been born in the wrong place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Luciana<\/picture>
Representation of the Battle of Culqualber, where the Italians sacrificed themselves almost completely, demonstrating such valour as to deserve the honour of arms from their adversaries.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 1980s: starting with Lebanon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first Italian mission in an international peacekeeping operation was in Lebanon, in 1982<\/strong>with theOperation Italcon<\/a>during which an organic battalion remained deployed for eighteen months<\/strong>. Following the tragic events in the Palestinian camps of Sabra and Chatila<\/strong>located on the western outskirts of Beirut, and consultations between the Lebanese Government<\/strong> and the Secretary General of the United Nations<\/strong>, the UN Security Council Resolution 521<\/strong>which led Lebanon to request the intervention of a Multinational Force<\/strong>also involving Italy. The objective was re-establish the sovereignty and authority of the Lebanese government<\/strong> on Beirut and ensure the safety of the population<\/strong>. The 15 March 1983<\/strong>, the Mar\u00f2 Filippo Montesi<\/strong> lost his life in an ambush while on patrol in Beirut<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mission ITALCON<\/strong> took place from 24 September 1982 to 6 March 1984<\/strong>involving a total of 8,345 Italian military personnel<\/strong>. At the end of the mission, their commitment and outstanding operational capabilities were widely recognised internationally, attesting to their professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Luciana<\/picture>
Mar\u00f2 Filippo Montesi and the vehicle hit by machine-gun fire and hand grenades. He is the first Italian soldier to be killed in peacetime since the Second World War.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Operation Heron - Iraqi Kurdistan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1991<\/strong>during the Gulf War<\/strong>Italy took part in the Heron mission<\/strong>a humanitarian operation aimed at providing aid to Kurdish refugees<\/strong>. La Folgore Parachute Brigade<\/a> deployed almost 1,000 men<\/strong>, set up over 600 tents<\/strong> for the reception of refugees and ensured the security in an area of 1,400 km<\/strong>obtaining official recognitions from the United Nations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Italian soldiers operated in environmental conditions extremely difficult<\/strong>thousands of kilometres from the motherland. At first they devoted themselves to the creation of reception camps<\/strong> and the provision of assistance and security<\/strong> to the fleeing populations. Subsequently, they were deployed in front of Iraqi forces<\/strong> retreating northwards under pressure from the Allies, contributing decisively to the stabilisation of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the valour demonstrated, all Italian military personnel participating in the mission Heron<\/strong> received the Commemorative Cross<\/strong> of Ministry of Defence<\/strong>, l'Certificate of Merit from the Army General Staff<\/strong>signed by General Goffredo Canino<\/strong>, and the Certificate of Appreciation<\/strong>conferred by the Statutory General John Shalikashvili<\/strong> and from the General Mario Buscemi<\/strong>. Italian intervention ensured a seat belt<\/strong>decisive for the refugee return<\/strong> in their lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Luciana<\/picture>
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Award-winning British photographer Derek Hudson described his experience documenting the Kurdish exodus of 1991 as \"one of the most tragic things\" he has ever seen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sicilian Vespers, in the service of Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 25 July 1992<\/strong>following the mafia attacks<\/strong> who killed the magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino<\/strong>the Italian government dispatched the Italian Army<\/strong> in Sicily to support law enforcement in the fight against organised crime. The operation began with the arrival in Palermo<\/strong> of over 1,000 parachutists from Folgore<\/strong> on 26 July, transported by the 46th Airborne Brigade<\/strong> with C-130 and G-222<\/strong>. The contingent was deployed to guard sensitive targets, reinforce controls and ensure public safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L'Operation Sicilian Vespers<\/a> represented one of the most important deployments of the Armed Forces in the country, marking an unprecedented action in the fight against the Mafia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Luciana<\/picture>
Paratrooper checkpoint during Operation Sicilian Vespers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Operation IBIS - Somalia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From 1992 to 1994<\/strong>Italy participated in the IBIS mission<\/a> at Somalia<\/a>deploying the second largest contingent after the US<\/strong>. The operation was part of an international intervention aimed at stabilising the country<\/strong> e ensuring the security of humanitarian aid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation in Somalia<\/strong> was dramatic: civil war, an unprecedented humanitarian emergency and the presence of armed groups made any international intervention difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3 December 1992<\/strong>with the Resolution 794<\/strong>, the UN Security Council<\/strong> authorised military action throughout Somali territory, entrusting a group of member states to conduct it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italy, with the IBIS mission<\/strong>, provided military support<\/strong> e logistics<\/strong> for the stabilisation of the country<\/strong> and the protection of humanitarian operations<\/strong>as well as promoting a series of emblematic initiatives<\/strong> for the reconstruction of the social fabric<\/strong> of a nation battered by war years<\/strong>such as the reopening of schools, hospitals and factories<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2 July 1993<\/a>during one of the most violent clashes of the mission, the Italian soldiers<\/strong> faced an intense battle against the Somali militias in Mogadishu<\/strong>. In that episode Parachutist Pasquale Baccaro, Staff Sergeant Stefano Paolicchi and Second Lieutenant Andrea Millevoi lost their lives<\/a>while the then Lieutenant Gianfranco Paglia<\/strong> was seriously injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the mission, Italy suffered the loss of 14 compatriots, including 11 military personnel, a volunteer nurse and two civilians<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Luciana<\/picture>
Lt-Col Gianfranco Paglia, wounded in Somalia on 2 July 1993, is a clear testimony of how serving one's country to help others can leave indelible marks for a lifetime.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Operation Albatros: Italy on the front line for Peace in Mozambique<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Parallel to the commitment in Somalia<\/strong>, a equally crucial operational scenario in Mozambique<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rome Peace Accords<\/strong>signed on 4 October 1992<\/strong> between the Government of Mozambique<\/strong> and the RENAMO<\/strong> (Mozambican National Resistance), entrusted the United Nations<\/strong> the supervision and control of their implementation. The 16 December 1992<\/strong>, the UN Security Council<\/strong> authorised theOperation ONUMOZ<\/strong> (United Nations Operations in Mozambique), with the aim of ensuring the pacification of Mozambique<\/strong>and in detail:<\/p>\n\n\n\n