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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MILAN 000214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ROME FOR ODC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019 
TAGS: MARR PGOV PINS PREL IT
SUBJECT: DAL MOLIN UPDATE: VICENZA COMMUNITY MOSTLY 
SUPPORTIVE, BUT CONCERNS LINGER 
 
Classified By: CG Carol Perez for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: In meetings with local Vicenza politicians 
across the political spectrum, the general consensus was that 
the ugliest period of contentious and politically charged 
opposition to the U.S. army's Dal Molin base construction has 
passed. Their assessment is that most community residents are 
either favorable or indifferent to the project.  That said, 
even among supporters there are some lingering concerns about 
the impact of Dal Molin -- above all the fear of increased 
traffic disrupting the center of town in the absence of a 
"tangenziale" ring road to connect the two bases. 
Additionally, residents are concerned about the prospect of 
additional American military personnel in their midst given 
the existing military's perceived isolation from the greater 
Vicenza community.  The tangenziale is something that the 
Italian government must resolve, and it is certainly in our 
interest they do so. The need for new collaboration with 
Vicentini civil society is also a point well taken.  We'll 
work with our good partners in the city and region to promote 
it. End Summary. 
 
Dal Molin: No Longer a Political Hot Potato 
 
¶2. (SBU) In October 27 meetings in Vicenza, local politicians 
from the Democratic Party (PD), Popolo della Liberta (PDL), 
and Northern League (LN)  parties described general support 
of, or resignation to, the army's Dal Molin base construction 
project among community residents.  The army commenced early 
this year construction of the new base to accommodate more 
than 1,500 new soldiers coming from Germany to Vicenza in 
order to consolidate by 2012 the 173rd BCT in one location. 
According to these politicians, the days of rabid and vocal 
opposition to the base expansion project have safely passed, 
and the anti-base Mayor Variati,s August 2009 
acknowledgement that the project was going forward took wind 
out of the remaining opponents' sails.  A prominent local 
journalist similarly assessed that Dal Molin is no longer an 
issue in the local political discourse, and that most people 
at this point are indifferent (if they were not already). 
The most positive outlook on the base expansion came from the 
Lega Nord, whose local party secretary said that a majority 
of young people are actually favorable to the base and hold a 
positive view of Americans. 
 
The Importance of a Road 
 
¶3. (SBU) Although most of the politically charged and 
ideological opposition to the project has subsided -- or at 
least quieted -- there is still significant concern across 
the political spectrum about logistical problems the Dal 
Molin project will almost certainly create. Specifically, 
every politician highlighted worries about the increase of 
traffic and congestion in Vicenza's city center as a result 
of the new army base, which is located several kilometers 
across town from the existing Caserma Ederle base. 
Historically, the traffic issue has been a major point of 
contention for those opposing the base, and as a result of 
the town's insistence, the Italian central government 
approved, and agreed in principle to fund, a ring road 
("tangenziale") around the city to connect the two bases and 
prevent additional army-related traffic from the narrow roads 
through the urban center.  However, the project has not 
advanced beyond a feasibility study carried out more than a 
year ago. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In earlier discussions with LN-affiliated provincial 
authorities (the proposed tangenziale route would pass 
through land owned by both the city and the province) we 
heard complaints over the slow pace of the project.  The 
provincial President, conveniently also an executive in a 
local highway-construction and operation company, said that 
the whole thing could be done in three years if the political 
will in Rome and Vicenza existed.  He noted that pressure on 
local authorities to get the route agreed to and on Rome 
authorities to get necessary permits for construction were 
all that would be required.  Though the tangenziale would 
cost around 500 mln euro, he estimated, budgetary constraints 
should not come into play.  The President told us he thought 
the project could be privately financed with repayment in 20 
years via a shadow toll system that would charge local 
drivers a users surcharge.   Although all the politicians 
we've spoken with acknowledge that delays in the construction 
of the tangenziale were the fault of the Italian central 
 
MILAN 00000214  002 OF 002 
 
 
government, not the Americans, they feared that continued 
delays in the construction of the tangenziale could 
reinvigorate the mostly dormant opposition to the base, and 
breed ill-will toward the Dal Molin project and the American 
government in general. 
 
More Integration is Key 
 
¶5. (SBU) In addition to the tangenziale issue, perceived poor 
integration of the army community was cited by politicians as 
a problem hindering U.S.-Vicenza relations.  They noted that 
the larger Vicenza community has virtually no interaction 
with the American military personnel who live in their midst 
(even though the vast majority of troops live off base). 
Every politician, in one way or another, underscored the 
desire for more interaction and exchange between the American 
troops and the rest of the community.  Several politicians 
bemoaned the fact that the only interaction between Vicenza 
residents and the base over the past 50 years has been the 
annual 4th of July party, when the base is opened to the 
public, and on Friday and Saturday nights when soldiers come 
to town to eat and drink.  The politicians had a number of 
ideas for how to strengthen ties between the American 
military community and the town of Vicenza, including 
specific suggestions for cultural and educational exchanges, 
study abroad and other university programs, and shared 
activities (like Boy Scouts) for Italian and American 
children as means for engaging the local community. 
 
Comment: Time for a New Strategy 
 
¶6. (C) The reduction in violent opposition, and the tactical 
retreat of Mayor Variati, give us some breathing space to 
develop a strategy to ensure Dal Molin is completed and the 
173rd consolidated in 2012 with a minimum of friction.  We 
agree that short-term progress on the tangenziale issue is 
essential to this end and something on which we need to work 
with our Italian partners -- both on the federal and local 
levels.  Though the money and decision making must come from 
the Italians, the traffic that will boil Vicentini blood will 
be U.S. military.  The claims of poor integration are also a 
point well taken.  With the message that "Dal Molin will 
happen, so let's move on," we're re-approaching Vicenza civil 
society leaders to find a way to ensure the USG has strong 
ties in Vicenza and a positive image that goes beyond 
military relationships.  Despite lingering bad feelings in 
city hall, we have many local partners in this effort who 
have the same goal, including officials at the provincial and 
regional levels.  We don't expect that regional elections in 
the Veneto next March will change this atmosphere of 
cooperation. 
 PEREZ