VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRO #0346/01 0371451
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061451Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3426

UNCLAS ROME 000346 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PREL IT
SUBJECT: CODEL KING DISCUSSES OLYMPIC SECURITY, 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND BORDER SECURITY 
 
 
¶1. (U) Transmission of this cable was delayed pending CODEL 
clearance. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  CODEL King met January 12 with Under 
Secretary to the Council of Ministers Gianni Letta and 
 
SIPDIS 
Minister of Interior Giuseppe Pisanu.  Both Letta and Pisanu 
described U.S.-Italian cooperation in the war on terrorism as 
excellent and expressed confidence that the GOI has an 
adequate security plan for the Olympics.  When asked by Rep. 
King how to improve cooperation, Letta said the U.S. Congress 
could work more intensively with its Italian counterpart, and 
Pisanu said U.S. information sharing could be quicker and 
along a broader spectrum.  The delegation also discussed 
illegal immigration, Muslim outreach, and Italian troop 
deployments to Iraq. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (U) Representative Pete King led a bipartisan delegation 
from the House Committee on Homeland Security to Rome, Italy 
and met January 12 with Under Secretary to the Council of 
Ministers Gianni Letta and Minister of Interior Giuseppe 
Pisanu.  The CODEL included Representatives Donna 
Christensen, Michael McCaul, William Pascrell, Jr. and Mike 
Rogers.  Ambassador Spogli accompanied the CODEL to the 
meetings. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
U/S LETTA PRAISES U.S.-ITALIAN COOPERATION 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Rep. King and all members of the CODEL thanked Letta 
for Italy's cooperation in the war on terror and for Italian 
troop commitments in difficult hotspots like Afghanistan and 
Iraq.  Letta responded by saying the U.S. and Italy 
traditionally have enjoyed a strong relationship but that it 
has been strengthened further over the past few years because 
of the personal connection between our country's two leaders. 
 Letta continued that the U.S. and Italy have closely 
cooperated in sensitive security areas since September 11, 
2001 and that the GOI's commitment to Iraq remains solid 
despite strong criticism from some members of parliament and 
Italian losses in Iraq.  In response to Rep. King's question 
as to how U.S-Italian cooperation could be enhanced, Letta 
responded that the U.S. Congress could try to work more 
closely with the Italian parliament in order to help convince 
opponents of Italian commitments to Iraq and other places of 
the need for Italy to participate strongly in such hot spots. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Rep. Pascrell asked Letta what plans the GOI has for 
withdrawing Italian troops from Iraq and whether he thought 
the presence of foreign troops in Iraq has encouraged 
international terrorism.  Letta responded that the GOI's 
policy in Iraq is in perfect harmony with the U.S. position. 
He said that, like everyone, Italy would like to withdraw its 
troops but that it must be gradual, closely coordinated with 
the U.S. and Iraq and based on the evolution of conditions in 
Iraq, including security and the level of preparedness of 
Iraqi security forces.  Letta said he did not believe there 
was a link between international terrorism and foreign troops 
in Iraq and noted that the September 11, 2001 attack on the 
U.S. occurred before foreign troops entered Iraq. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Rep. McCaul asked about the GOI's security 
priorities in the wake of the war on terrorism.  Letta cited 
changes to Italy's legal framework designed to crackdown on 
terrorist activities and efforts to further coordinate 
security policy within the EU.  Letta was particularly proud 
of the positive results of increased Italian vigilance 
against terrorist financing.  He said the EU needs to agree 
on a coordinated immigration policy and noted that Italy's 
long coastline in the Mediterranean makes it the border for 
Europe.  He said the EU needs to provide greater assistance 
to Italy in order to better protect its border.  In response 
to Rep. Rogers, Letta noted that the Italian people are also 
concerned about the terrorist threat but that they are not 
willing to sacrifice their way of living and surrender to 
fear. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Letta said the GOI feels confidant that it has an 
adequate security plan for the Turin Olympic Games, in 
response to a question from Rep. Christensen.  He 
acknowledged that the Olympics provide terrorists with a 
tempting target, but said that Italian security forces, in 
close coordination with U.S. and other allies, have developed 
a massive security plan that will be difficult for terrorists 
to penetrate. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
PISANU DESCRIBES CT POLICIES/NEED FOR DATA SHARING 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Rep. King and the other members of the delegation 
warmly thanked Minister Pisanu for Italy's cooperation in the 
 
war on terror.  Pisanu thanked the delegation for their visit 
to Italy and described the importance of U.S-Italian 
cooperation to include the war on terror and organized crime. 
 Pisanu described U.S.-Italian cooperation as excellent but 
noted terrorists are always looking for innovative ways to 
penetrate their targets, making it imperative to always look 
for new ways to improve cooperatiin.  In response to Rep. 
King's question as to how to improve bilateral cooperation, 
Pisanu repeated that cooperation is currently excellent, but 
offered that the exchange of information could be quicker and 
along a broader spectrum.  Pisanu repeated this comment 
several times throughout the rest of the meeting.  He said 
improved information exchange applies both to the movement of 
terrorist and their financial assets. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Rep. Christensen asked about the threat to Italy 
stemming from potential terrorists living in Italy.  Pisanu 
said that Italy,s immigrants arrived recently since Italy 
did not have a colonial legacy and said there are 
approximately one million Muslims living in Italy.  Five 
percent of those Muslims regularly attend Mosque and might be 
susceptible to Islamic extremism.  Pisanu said he is taking a 
page from the Italian battle against Marxist extremism and is 
trying to drive a wedge between this minority and the rest of 
the Muslim community that only wants to live and work in 
peace. Rep. Pascrell asked Pisanu if the GOI has been able to 
understand what motivates terrorists to act in Italy and why 
moderates move to extremism.  Pisanu emphasized that Italy 
defeated the Red Brigade by separating the militants from its 
base of support in the working class.  Since most Muslims 
living in Italy have simple concerns related to work status 
and living conditions, he has developed a Muslim Consultative 
Body to dialogue with the community and learn about their 
concerns.  His approach is to offer a hand to those who are 
willing to show respect for Italian laws, society and 
religious beliefs and use a strong arm against those who will 
not.  Pisanu highlighted recent legal changes which allow him 
to expel any foreigner he deems a threat to national security. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Rep. Rogers asked whether Pisanu's approach of 
separating terrorists from their support community has 
produced any results.  Pisanu responded that the GOI has 
begun to receive cooperation from Islamic moderates.  He 
noted that his goal is not to assimilate Muslims into Italian 
culture since he believes that they are too different from 
the Italian-Christian tradition.  He sees his effort as a 
permanent dialogue based on mutual respect.  If Muslim 
immigrants are willing to respect Italian traditions, Pisanu 
expressed confidence that appropriate accommodations can be 
reached.  Those immigrants not willing to respect Italian 
values will be sent home.  As examples, Pisanu noted that he 
has expelled five imams for inciting violence and closed down 
a Muslim school operating outside the legal school system. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Pisanu described his concern regarding illegal 
immigration in response to a question by Rep. McCaul.  Pisanu 
said most illegal immigrants enter Italy clandestinely and 
present no documents when found by Italian authorities.  He 
lamented that organized crime groups make large profits from 
transporting illegal aliens and suggested that terrorist 
groups were also financing their activities in the same way. 
Pisanu expressed a specific concern with illegals coming from 
the Horn of Africa due to the strong terrorist penetration 
there. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Pisanu said the U.S. and Italy have cooperated 
closely on an Olympic security plan and expressed confidence 
in the GOI,s ability to thwart any attack.  He noted that 
Italy has not yet received a credible threat against the 
games. 
SPOGLI