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Una corrispondenza con un parente, a capo delle operazioni di un Destroyer americano attualmente ad Haiti
Ritengo sia bello da condividere.

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omissis....

Rox,

......let me leave you with this little story.....so the Italian LNO is onboard and their first aircraft carrier (like our flat deck amphibs) made its very first deployment over here and is here now. so we were talking and even joked a bit that they rushed the departure of the ship and changed its mission to come over here and help. and when i asked, ya why would you guys even come over here (cause it makes no sense, italy has no ties in the carribean like spain and france) well, gets all serious, and very sincere and even a little emotional and he says ... a couple years ago, when we had our earthquake, you, the US were the first ones there. You came and helped us right away. Eventually, others came. France and germany. but you helped us so much. So when this happened. it wasnt even a thought. We knew we had to come help. To pay you back. to pay the world back for helping us and being there for us.

I was not expecting that. He was very sincere and I got the strong impression that that is the sentiment of the Italians, but a little more of the governement, and a lot of the military. So as painful and inconvient as it is on a personal level, and as much as it may cost in money in a budget, or in assets not ready for war/defense as maintenance and training is impacted, how valuable is what it buys us, when a country like Italy speeds up its maiden deployment of its first air craft carrier to come help out the US?

Does that story make it above the fold of the NY Times? hell does it even make the times?

.....omissis

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Saluti a tutti
ROX