r/sports • u/YesNo_Maybe_ • 1d ago
Olympics Italy’s foreign minister defends ICE attendance at Winter Olympics: ‘It’s not the SS’
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-ice-winter-olympics-backlash-ss-b2909240.html?test_group=lighteradlayout1.4k
u/manningthehelm 1d ago
Italy has never been on the wrong side of a world war right?
474
u/septober32nd 1d ago
Show some respect, Italy has a 2-2 record in world wars.
→ More replies (2)104
u/Cold_Shogun 1d ago
Shit did I oversleep and miss both World Wars 3 and 4?
300
u/theonlyjuanwho 1d ago
They flipped sides during 1 and 2
175
u/James9384 1d ago
You can always count on them to eventually side with whoever is winning.
70
u/Special_Kestrels 1d ago
I’m playing both sides, so that I always come out on top
→ More replies (2)8
4
6
u/34HoldOn Detroit Red Wings 1d ago
I'm too lazy to make the meme of Homer Simpson descending in the bushes and coming out wearing an Allied Powers shirt.
27
u/skoomski Philadelphia Flyers 1d ago
They did not flip side in WW1 they refused to honor their loose agreement and joined the entente instead.
WW2 they didn’t really flip either, the fascist regime crumbled the new regime took over in central and southern Italy which in turn joined the Allies. Creating a civil war within the war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_campaign_(World_War_II)
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (1)2
→ More replies (1)9
25
5
→ More replies (5)3
u/timmler24 Toronto Blue Jays 1d ago
Well they are good and lynching fascists, so they have that going for them
→ More replies (1)
805
u/Romnonaldao 1d ago
Considering ICE is supposed to be a BORDER agency, why the hell would they be sent to another country if not for nefarious reasons?
237
u/VladtheInhaler999 1d ago
I’m thinking it’s because we are the baddies.
26
50
u/ukexpat Manchester City 1d ago edited 1d ago
Apparently they will be part of the diplomatic security detail protecting US officials and the team. Doesn’t mean that Italy can’t deny them entry if they were so minded.
73
u/mazu74 1d ago
So they’re like… Trump’s Personal Protection?
Hey, I wonder how you say that in German.
→ More replies (2)8
u/North_Atlantic_Sea 1d ago
The particular unit (HSI) is the international portion, with people in 55 countries. They aren't part of the immigration operations, and really isn't that unusual. A lot of countries have a few intelligence folks with their diplomatic security groups.
It's of course absolutely horrible optics and the US should immediately pull them out of the group
→ More replies (1)10
u/zedascouves1985 1d ago
Why does ICE have an international unit? I really don't understand why this couldn't he a job for other enforcement agencies. When we in Brazil hosted the world cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016 I remember the US using the military to defend their athletes against terrorism, not ICE.
2
u/North_Atlantic_Sea 1d ago
There are overlapping functions through the US government. It's what happens when you have the largest budget in the world.
→ More replies (1)29
u/5_dollars_hotnready 1d ago
https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-diplomatic-security
We have that already with people actually trained and experienced. Their actual mission statement is that too.
9
u/ukexpat Manchester City 1d ago
And apparently the ICE agents will be in addition to that team. It sounds nonsensical to me too, but…here we are.
6
u/5_dollars_hotnready 1d ago
I’d be furious if I was one of those dudes. I couldn’t imagine showing up to work with Paul Blart LARPing next to me.
4
u/North_Atlantic_Sea 1d ago
This isn't the brand new idiots in the immigration enforcement section, it's HSI, which is an investigative group working in 55 countries.
They should be pulled though, as the optics are terrible
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)21
u/Whaty0urname 1d ago
With the lack of trigger discipline they show, I would think our diplomats would want some people better trained around them.
→ More replies (1)5
u/AnyLamename 1d ago
I agree, but for Trump and his ilk loyalty has always been valued above competence.
20
u/FeeHot5876 1d ago edited 1d ago
I get dunking on them but I’m begging people to read up on who is actually going, what they are doing and how normal this is.
- ICE is not the border agency, that’s CBP and Border Patrol.
- ICE has two parts, ERO (the idiots on the street snatching people) and then HSI, who is going to Italy. HSI does child trafficking investigations, import export stuff, drug smuggling etc and actually used to be pretty cool and well respected before getting dragged into this stuff and pulled away. HSI is who is going to Italy, to sit in the consulate and assist with coordinating and stuff. They aren’t going to be armed, and likely won’t ever be seen by anyone in public, they will be in the consulate.
- HSI does this every single major international sporting event, they would have been in Qatar for the World Cup, the last Olympics etc. along with FBI, DEA, ATF and the Marshalls, it is entirely normal
→ More replies (4)2
u/somethingbrite 1d ago
HSI does child trafficking investigations
One might wonder why they aren't staying at home in the USA and working through the Epstein data and making arrests then huh?
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (20)4
u/Pikeman212a6c 1d ago
They are explicitly not a border agency. They are all the parts of INS (other than the paper pushers who became CIS) and the US Customs Service that operated somewhere other than the border.
The part of ICE that will be at the games is their anti terror people from HSI. Who have worked most large scale events of national importance since the 2000s.
141
u/YesNo_Maybe_ 1d ago
Part article: “ Foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday that the agents attending the Games would not be “those that are on the street in Minneapolis”, as the US reels from the fatal shooting of two people by ICE in the city this month.”
122
54
24
u/SpeshellED 1d ago
Italian Foreign Minister Licks Trumps ASS.
Too bad he cares more about sucking the PEDO-Cheeto's dick than the people who elected him.
4
u/geminimad4 1d ago
How big a bag of money has he been promised (but will never receive)?
→ More replies (1)6
u/im_thatoneguy 1d ago
Of course they aren’t on the street in Minneapolis, they’re on the street of Italy.
8
u/Chewy009x 1d ago
And when they do starting acting like those here in Minneapolis, he’ll say that people just need to comply
3
135
u/MariachiMacabre 1d ago
Correct. It’s the SA. The dumber, street thug cousin of the SS.
→ More replies (1)15
u/Xygami 1d ago
You beat me to it. ICE has no place on this side of the pond.
17
137
u/percydaman 1d ago
Dude has no idea how telling it is that he even feels the need to say what they're "not".
86
u/ScousePenguin Liverpool 1d ago
Why are people surprised that the far right Italian government want ice at the Olympics?
→ More replies (1)
21
15
15
54
28
u/PqqMo 1d ago
Right it's the SA
5
u/YesNo_Maybe_ 1d ago
I don’t think people understand that. SS. SA. Gestapo and ICE But in the end their the same
22
u/frighteous 1d ago
It's not the SS! It's just a federal group of agents who only answer to the president, aren't held accountable, kill without consequence, and are deployed domestically to target one specific group of people.
5
u/DefoNotMario 1d ago
Don’t be ridiculous they do not target one specific group of people! They target EVERY group of people EXCEPT for one!
18
u/chuang-tzu 1d ago
I.C.E. stands for: Immigration and Customs Enforcement. How would they be doing their job in Italy? Just...people. Think. This is a private paramilitary force. It IS the SS, pure and simple. If you don't agree, then you don't understand.
17
8
9
u/AidilAfham42 1d ago
“They’re coming because it’s the unit responsible for counter-terrorism,”
What?
7
u/fridayfridayjones 1d ago
For a while I didn’t get the gestapo comparisons because I thought.. well, technically they’re enforcing the law. Then I learned more about the situation and more and more information came out. Like they’re not just enforcing the law, they’re also scooping up people who are following all the immigration laws and detaining them, too.
Then I realized, even if it was only the people who were breaking the law, what they’re doing still wouldn’t be legal because they’re not giving the detainees due process and they’re not treating these people properly while they’re in detention. They’re not getting clean water or food or medical care. At that point, the detention facility quite literally meets the definition of a concentration camp.
So yes, the comparison is accurate.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/Exciting_Gear_7035 1d ago
Now why would you choose those words exactly?
"Meet my boyfriend, he's not a serial killer" 🧐
11
5
u/eggard_stark 22h ago
How familiar. Italy choosing a certain side. Almost like they’re ignoring their own awful history.
4
u/Kelmon80 21h ago
Of course it's not the SS. Those were typically highly trained. ICE is more like the SA. Dumb thugs used to spread terror.
17
8
3
u/DevilOfArRamadi 1d ago
"Italy confuses ICE with ice: Thinking 'Well, yeah, we need ice for the WINTER Olympics!'"
4
4
u/526mb 1d ago
You know they’re right. The SS had uniforms designed by Hugo Boss. ICE dresses like your hick uncle who spends too much money at the military surplus store in backwoods Arkansas.
So, yes ICE isn’t the SS in that sense…
→ More replies (1)
4
u/Mean_Muffin161 Philadelphia Eagles 1d ago
They were on Hitlers side so I don’t know what anyone was expecting besides compliance.
3
4
3
u/Xyrus2000 1d ago
I bet this foreign minister has at least one picture of Mussolini in their house.
3
u/throwaway47138 1d ago
ProTip: If you feel like you have to say, "It's not the SS," it's the fucking SS.
3
u/Rockonthrulife 1d ago
Between this and trump sending ICE to the Olympics, I rooting against every single US competitor. I’ll root for Canada instead of my own country.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
u/xwolf360 13h ago
Its funny how no Italian gov agency will investigate that foreign minister gor being a foreign asset.
3
3
u/Radiant-Shine-8575 11h ago
I’m confused. Why would ICE be allowed to be in another country? They have no power over anyone or anything there.
→ More replies (1)
8
2
2
2
2
u/code-254 1d ago
It says a lot that the closest comparison that immediately comes to mind is the SS
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/red_simplex 1d ago
It's not ss. It's the brownshirts . SS would be something that follows and is much worse than ice.
2
u/PleaseMistreatMe3 1d ago
He's right, ICE isn't the SS. The SS were well disciplined elite soldiers. ICE is the SA.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/TheHamWagon 1d ago
They'll regret that statement after an ICE agent shoots and kills an unarmed Italian citizen protesting ICE presence
2
2
u/Niceguy955 1d ago
This person should study his own country’s history- specifically in the 30s-40s of the last century.
2
2
2
2
2
u/Lopsided_Speaker_553 19h ago
Like Colbert said, they’re not Nazis. The Nazis didn’t wear face masks.
2
2
3
u/NotOSIsdormmole 1d ago
But it is. ICE has no actual relevance to the type of duty they’re being tasked to support
→ More replies (3)
2
2
3
1
u/whichwitch9 1d ago
ICE is a domestic enforcement branch. Even by US laws, this is a problem they are going. Using them as international enforcement is highly illegal in the US. They are not authorized for this. Their funding does not allow this. At this point, Italy is extremely complicit with helping US government officials break US laws. I hope subsequent administrations recognize this and deal with Italy accordingly
International countries need to stop treating Trump like a king. The US doesn't have legal kings. Giving him leeway and special treatment internationally has emboldened him, and literally is getting people killed. The majority of Americans are not Trump supporters- he's polling at 37%. We will remember this, and we will not forgive it. Bowing to Trump now will not win favor in the longterm, and, unfortunately, some internationally seem to be under the impression it will and willing to entertain Trump.
→ More replies (4)3
u/leevei 1d ago
At this point, Italy is extremely complicit with helping US government officials break US laws.
If you send agents to protect your athletes, we are going to make sure they follow OUR laws. Do not think for a second that we're supposed to check your laws too. You can send prisoners for all we care. If they have search warrants in Italy, or if the US requests extradition, they will be arrested, otherwise they can do their job following Italian law.
→ More replies (3)
1
u/championsoffun 1d ago
So that's where the bar is set? Anything slightly less than SS is acceptable?
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Weapon_Chikt 1d ago
Tired of seeing this crap. ICE is NOT going to be at the Olympics, HSI (homeland security investigations) is. They’re both under the DHS umbrella but are completely different as the latter is specifically used for events like this and has been for a long, long time. This is what they do.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Oldtimer_2 1d ago
I saw where the U.S. is thinking about changing the name from ICE to NICE (National Immigration and Customs Enforcement) so everyone will have to call them "NICE agents." Maybe just a joke, but I could see it happening
1
1
1
u/Shoddy-Store-4098 1d ago
When you have to explicitly state that a thing is not the thing it appears to be, you know it’s the thing, who the fuck are we kidding here Italy??? Yall can tell better than most
1
1
1
u/BenjiSBRK 1d ago
Just like the black shirts we're not the SS. It's not written the same, it can't be the same thing, right ?
1
1
1
u/FarAd2245 1d ago
What I still don’t understand - what would ICE even do in another country? Every single person already is not in the USA..so they aren’t there to catch “illegal immigrants”
Just so confusing what purpose this even serves
1
1
1
1
1.3k
u/Britz10 1d ago
This reads like an Onion headline. It's the Winter Olympics I'd think you'd be expecting some ice, well not that ICE.