Caustic, direct, and provocative — these are the words that best describe Edward Luttwak’s responses to questions from our sister website Formiche regarding reports that Italy denied U.S. bombers en route to Iran access to the Sicilian base of Sigonella, due to the lack of a formal request as required by existing agreements.
Q: How do you view the Italian authorities’ decision not to authorize U.S. aircraft to use the Sigonella base because the request had not followed treaty procedures?
A: Right, why not follow bureaucratic procedures? Now I’ll tell the Pentagon to buy proper paper and use a pen—not a ballpoint—and submit the request on stamped paper. Do you still have stamped paper in Italy?
Q: Yes, we do.
A: Good. Then I’ll tell the Pentagon to get some stamped paper and send the request at least a month in advance. Oh, and to write it by hand, in good handwriting.
- They should handle all requests that way. Meanwhile, I’ll ask the Pentagon to pass all the targets to the Italian Air Force, since it desperately needs some practice—given that Italy spends billions on aircraft that didn’t bomb when they were supposed to.
Q: What are you referring to?
A: For example, Yemen—when the Houthis were disrupting traffic to Italian ports. So while the Americans learn how to file requests on stamped paper, written nicely and properly formatted, they can hand over the targets to the Italian Air Force so it can get some practice.
- Otherwise, they’re just punching holes in the sky with these planes. Very expensive planes. Who knows—maybe they’ll stop spending all that money and just buy model airplanes instead. They’d be just as useful for this purpose.
Q: So how do you interpret this whole episode?
A: These are all symbolic gestures. As if the Americans were attacking San Marino. The Iranians are firing missiles in every direction, hitting countries that have never lifted a finger against them—like Kuwait. Or Qatar, which actually supports them.
- But Italy wants to throw a wrench in the works because a request wasn’t submitted on stamped paper. So the claims of your Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — who went six times to the Vatican of Palm Beach to bow down and demonstrate total loyalty and support — amount to nothing.
- She has once again discredited the Italian Republic, because she made clear promises to cooperate more than her predecessors, but in reality cooperates less.
- As for this specific case, while the Americans learn how to file requests on stamped paper, the Italian forces are in desperate need of practice. But I understand — that’s difficult.
Q: Why is that?
A: It’s very difficult to have trained pilots when their superiors have never flown in war. Things become highly formalistic. So they might as well carry out the missions themselves—why not?
Q: Do you think this episode will have concrete consequences?
A: No. It simply confirms that Italians don’t like war. And that’s not a moral failing. But if I paid taxes in Italy, I wouldn’t give a single cent to armed forces that are never used.
