Fresh insults sour German-Italian ties Silvio Berlusconi restates his regret over his "Nazi" remarks, but a new row erupts over insults against German tourists.

[via BBC News | Front Page | UK Edition]

 

 

What do the Italians think they are doing?

 

Don't get me wrong, as in any "Family" there will be arguements, disagreements - but this really takes the biscuit.

 

Because of European history the British disliked the French, and the French the British. Then everyone took a dislike to the Germans (for somewhat obvious reasons), but, to me at least, the Italians have always sat, somewhat on the periphery of modern European History. But, all of a sudden, they have decided to take a swipe at the Germans, and using the worst of German History to do that.

 

First off there was Berlusconi's comment to the German MEP, saying that he would be the ideal Nazi Camp Guard in a film, and now one of his underlings is having a crack at German tourists (see the story link attached).

 

Now I know that people have long memories, and that most of the memories are "not of the best quality" shall we say, but , at the minute, these people are supposed to be building a common consencous, a United Europe.  They are supposed to be building an "confederation" of countries for the common good (Not that I agree with a Federal Europe - but thats another story), but all they do is trade insults like bully's in a play ground - not a good confidence builder.

 

The more I hear of Mr Berlusconi and his co-horts, the more I worry. He certainly is larger than life, he certainly plays to the audience, he plays for effect. But he does seem to be a little "Del Boy" - a little like the dodgy Market Trader, and then to pick s fight with the germans - the mans crackers. And he is also the EU President for the next 6mths - he is the figurehead for Europe - and the figurehead is a CLOWN.

 

Even more frightening is that, according the news at least, Mr Berlusconi is "personal" friends with Mr Blair, Prime Minister Blair - gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

 

Just as an aside - this is the first "Blog this" story from the Newz Crawler program I mentioned a few posts back, although I have used the "blog this" facility off the Google toolbar. Although I like these functions, I can see that I am going to have to be carefull not to over-do the use of this, I could bore people to death with what I think of some issues, maybe - just maybe, I might even do that.