THE DEVIL VISITS THE POPE:

Straight from Hel(l) Beloved Comrade Leader Emperor George Bush II dropped in to visit Pope Benedict in Rome. To say that this was less than popular with ordinary Italians would be a gross understatement. Less than a week before the visit Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi was heckled into silence when he tried to address an economic conference in Trento Italy. The issue was the failure of the centre left government to live up to the expectations of many who voted for it, and its continued support of a massive expansion of the US military base in Vicenza. This base will be part of the plans of the present US Administration for an "endless war" on terror (and whatever regimes are inconvenient for American financial interests). The participation of Italy in US initiated wars overseas(Italy has withdrawn its troops from Iraq and is reluctant to send further troops to Afghanistan) is immensely unpopular in Italy, and the visit of the President to Rome is like a red flag before a bull in this atmosphere.

Unfortunately for Bush just before his arrival on Friday the first trial involving the CIA's "extraordinary rendition program" (kidnapping in plain English) opened in a Milan courtroom. There are 26 Americans on trial for the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric, Osama Mustafa Hassan, in Italy. Another American soldier is on trial in Rome for the murder of an Italian, Nicola Calipari, Italy's #2 secret service man, in 2005 on the road from the Baghdad airport. Strangely enough all these Americans are being tried in abstentia. Just to top in off a report from European investigator Dick Marty that accused Italy and Germany of obstructing his probe into secret CIA prisons in Poland and Rumania also came out Friday.

Italian demonstrators massed in two separate events during the Bush visit. The two Communist Parties in Prodi's coalition and the Greens opted for a rally and concert in the Piazza del Popolo while more radical elements staged a march. Organizers of the march estimate that about 150,000 people took part. They were opposed by over 10,000 police. The march itself was mostly peaceful except near the end when police attacked demonstrators who donned masks and threw bottles.

For news of the protests (in Italian) and for more photos such as those displayed above go to the Roma Indymedia site.

Bush began his visit to Rome with a visit to the Pope- not to confess his sins I presume. he used the occasion to trumpet US "humanitarian efforts" such as doubling the US commitment to fighting AIDS in Africa from $15 billion to $30 billion. In other words from costing the same as killing Iraqis for three days to a sum equal to killing them for six days. The Pope, for his part, opined that "nothing positive comes from Iraq", but refrained from giving a moral lecture to the Emperor as his predecessor John Paul II did. The Pope and the President primpted and posed and exchanged gifts. In some sort of ultimate fit of hypocrisy one of Bush's gifts was a "Moses walking stick" made by a former homeless man in Dallas Texas, and engraved with the ten commandments. Bush ?? Homeless people ?? The mind boggles. A waterlogged shingle from New Orleans would have been much more expressive of what Bush has actually done.

Bush also held discussions with the Vatican's # 2 official, Cardinal Tarcisco Bertone. While leaving the Vatican, however, Bush's limousine stalled as the motorcade proceeded towards the US Embassy. Molly guesses that God decided to put in at least a little word as to what he thought about the whole matter. Later in the visit Bush met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and with Premier Romano Prodi. He ended his schedule by meeting with right wing ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi , still under suspicion over many of his business deals.

From Rome Bush flew on to Tirana, the capital of Albania where his reception was for once demonstration free. The government of Albania has gone all out to be servile to the Emperor, naming the street in front of the parliament in his honour. Huge welcoming billboards were set up and the streets decorated with American and Albanian flags. In some excess of sycophancy the Albanian government has even issued postage stamps with Bush's picture and the Statue of Liberty. All hail the Emperor !. Ordinary Albanians didn't protest. Aside from a few thousand in a handpicked crowd that the government dragooned to meet Bush in a park the streets were almost totally empty as the people stayed home in droves. This was despite the fact that the TV offerings were entirely devoted to breath-holding coverage of the visit. One supposes that they found something to do other than watch TV or participate in a staged show for the President.

Albania has been a staunch and unwavering ally of the USA, sending troops to both Afghanistan and Iraq. Its resources, however, are more than slightly limited. Its commitment to Afghanistan has recently been increased to an astounding 140 men. It has 120 troops in Iraq. One wonders what on earth they are capable of doing there. Mostly provide an extra nuisance that the Americans try hard to keep out of both harm's way and trouble I presume. As a reward for their servility Bush reiterated his commitment for an independent Kosovo on Albania's eastern border.

From Albania Bush flew off to visit Bulgaria, another fun and pleasant place. Molly will follow him there later as soon as she rounds up the two goats that are the standard bribe for passage out of Albania. Too strange.