ARmy Rumour SErvice

Silvio Berlusconi backed by call girl at heart of Bunga Bunga scandal - Telegraph

Berlusconi has a very hostile and underhanded card to play - organised crime. I dont mean Greek style corruption and tax evasion, although he undoubtedly does that, but his links with Camorra, 'ndrangheta, La Cosa Nostra are well known, and have been for many years. These organisations are capable of terrorist attacks, such as bombings in Florence, and murdering magistrates. This organised crime network is a multi billion euro organisation, and remains a powerful force in southern Italy. 'ndrangheta alone is estimated to process about 50 billion euros a year. These groups can close down industries if they wish, but Berlusconi does have a hand in controlling those groups, and influencing which contracts go where. There has been a plan for a bridge to Sicily for many years, and with many millions of euros thrown that way, but as for anything you could drive over, nothing. Of course, the OC groups in southern Italy sap the social security of Italy probably more than our chavs do here in UK.

If anything, Italy has had support from EU in tackling organised crime, and remarkably successfully too. The northern Italians certainly do not want to go back to the OC groups taking control again, and Mrs Merkel certainly doesnt want any Italian OC groups setting bombs off in Germany. We in UK may have our problems with immigrant workers, bringing in the crops, but we dont kill the workers at the end of the season.

Originally Posted by mercurydancer

Berlusconi has a very hostile and underhanded card to play - organised crime. I dont mean Greek style corruption and tax evasion, although he undoubtedly does that, but his links with Camorra, 'ndrangheta, La Cosa Nostra are well known, and have been for many years. These organisations are capable of terrorist attacks, such as bombings in Florence, and murdering magistrates. This organised crime network is a multi billion euro organisation, and remains a powerful force in southern Italy. 'ndrangheta alone is estimated to process about 50 billion euros a year. These groups can close down industries if they wish, but Berlusconi does have a hand in controlling those groups, and influencing which contracts go where. There has been a plan for a bridge to Sicily for many years, and with many millions of euros thrown that way, but as for anything you could drive over, nothing. Of course, the OC groups in southern Italy sap the social security of Italy probably more than our chavs do here in UK.

If anything, Italy has had support from EU in tackling organised crime, and remarkably successfully too. The northern Italians certainly do not want to go back to the OC groups taking control again, and Mrs Merkel certainly doesnt want any Italian OC groups setting bombs off in Germany. We in UK may have our problems with immigrant workers, bringing in the crops, but we dont kill the workers at the end of the season.

But what you're talking about here is the survival of the preferred foreign policy driver of France and the critical economic enabler for Germany. The law of vital interest comes into play and if any criminal groups get in the way, they'll get crushed. Also, Berlusconi's an old man and a compromised benefactor - he has little to offer these groups long term.

I suspect that part of the quid pro quo for him stepping down was that he wasn't pursued through the courts afterwards.

More bad news from Mervyn.Warns of double dip recession.
Sir Mervyn King: Britain on the brink of second credit crunch, Bank of England Governor warns - Telegraph

Originally Posted by mercurydancer

...We in UK may have our problems with immigrant workers, bringing in the crops, but we dont kill the workers at the end of the season.

Of course not, that would be uncivilized, burning them out as we occasionally do in N.Ireland is quite sufficient.

Unfortunately there was no PM's question time this week, I had to make do with a snippet on Guido Fawkes of Deputy PM's questions.
Last week Dave was slapping down Ed with, We have created 100,000 jobs in the private sector, not just manufactured jobs in the civil service as the previous government did.
Wonderful, however it's a couple of million jobs Dave/UK needs, Undred thousand is Nothing.
From what has been said in last few posts there are jobs but Furriners are taking them.
Not nice to say but until UK becomes a low wage economy so many jobs will stay overseas.

john

The Tories realised they had to manage market perception as selling debt is all about confidence. We can even be risky, we just have to be +less+ risky than others.

Yes they have a busted flush but the posturing on cuts has bought them time. Hopefully they have been using that to set up plans on bank runs, civil unrest and even food rationing. I'm not saying it will come anywhere near this but you have to plan for it.

We have an utter mess. What would you have them do? I think the best thing they could do was stall for time and hope we somehow scrape through.

The time for complaining about absurd policies was 10 or 15 years ago. The damage is done now and we are simply spectators in our own slow-motion car crash, largely hostage to outside events.

I really think people need to read between the lines a bit more here. They can't spell it out for fear of causing panic in the domestic population and the wider markets. Unfortunately because we have a country of children most people can't see this and instead rail against statements that people like Osborne must detest having to trot out.

Good post Geezer.

john