SCENESETTER FOR FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER'S VISIT TO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000179 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016 TAGS: KOLY PTER PREL IT ANTITERRORISM FORCE PROTECTION SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER'S VISIT TO TURIN Classified By: A/DCM David Pearce, for reasons 1.5 (b)(d) ¶1. (S) Summary. Your visit will be an opportunity to visit the USG Olympics Coordination Office in Turin and review security preparations for the Winter Olympic Games. We have no current information about threats directed at Americans at the Games. Despite the presence and capability of Islamic extremist cells in northern Italy, we concur with Italian assessments that the biggest threat to the Games comes from domestic anarchist and anti-globalization groups. Italian security planning for the Games is an ongoing initiative; we continue to seek further specificity about key contingency planning. We have established an inter-agency intelligence unit in Embassy Rome and an inter-agency Joint Operations Center/Threat Integration Center in Turin to monitor threats and liaison with Italian security and intelligence services. ¶2. (C) Mission Italy has conducted two crisis management exercises focused on possible attack scenarios during the Games in Turin and other Italian cities. At the Games, we expect 10-15,o00 Americans, including athletes/trainers, press, sponsors and spectators; we will have approximately 260 USG TDY personnel working in Turin for the duration of the Games, plus personnel to handle the visit of the official VIP delegation, now scheduled to be in Italy February 8-12. End Summary. Strongest Ally in Continental Europe -------------- ¶3. (U) Under the leadership of PM Silvio Berlusconi, Italy is our strongest ally in continental Europe. In addition to being the third largest contributor of troops, Italy also funds reconstruction projects in Iraq and is interested in leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team there. In Afghanistan, Italy currently commands ISAF and leads the Herat PRT. In the Balkans, Italy recently took over KFOR and EUFOR commands. Rome pledged $3 million to the UN Fund for Democracy and provided earthquake and hurricane relief for Pakistan and New Orleans. Italy hosts 17,000 U.S. troops and the headquarters for U.S. Navy Europe and is a strong partner in defense-industrial technology programs. ¶4. (U) National elections are scheduled for April 2006, and you will find the campaign already in full swing. Berlusconi's center-right coalition is trailing in the polls against the center-left coalition candidate, Romano Prodi, but the election currently is too close to call. Berlusconi will address a joint session of the U.S. Congress this March. Terrorism/Law Enforcement Cooperation -------------- ¶5. (C) Italy remains steadfast in the war against terror. Its role in Iraq and Afghanistan has prompted threats by Al-Qa,ida. It worked closely with the UK in extraditing a suspect in the 2005 London bombing and with Spanish authorities in their investigation of the Madrid bombings. After the London bombings, Italy enacted a tougher anti-terrorism law, one that it employed last year to deport illegal immigrants and suspected terrorists and improve Italy's extensive surveillance of mosques and Islamic centers. Italy has established an inter-Ministerial Financial Security Committee is second only to the United States in the number of names contributed to the UNSC 1267 Committee for asset freeze. A law before Parliament would approve a mechanism for freezing non-financial assets of terrorists, which would be a welcome, precedent-setting event within the EU. We have a long record of cooperation on law enforcement cooperation, from anti-mafia coordination and recovery of stolen art/artifacts to sensitive political extradition cases. Olympic Security Preparations -------------- ¶6. (U) We have no current information about threats directed at Americans at the Turin Games. Despite the presence and capability of Islamic extremist cells in northern Italy, we concur with Italian assessments that the biggest threat to the Games will come from domestic anarchist and anti-globalization groups. Plans to build a new high-speed train (TAV) that will traverse the Turin area have sparked sometimes violent protests in recent weeks. ¶7. (S) You will be briefed by the USG Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) Dan Weber, and the FBI Olympic Coordinator (OC),Ray Mey on USG plans to liaise with Italian law enforcement officials and by OCP on the threat assessment and the Galileo project at Embassy Rome to disseminate USG threat intelligence to Italian intelligence and security forces. The Italian Ministry of Interior (MOI) has been given the task of coordinating all Italian security preparations for the Games, and you will also meet with the Chief of Police, Gianni DeGennaro, who, with Turin Questore Rodolfo Poli and Prefect Gioffredo Sottile, you will find to be very supportive and pro-American. ¶8. (C) It appears that in preparing for the Games, the MOI is using the standard procedures it developed for coping with the G-8 Summit, Pope John Paul's funeral and major soccer matches; this planning continues to be a work in progress. We believe their planning, although it lacks the level of detail used in USG domestic special events planning, far exceeds the capabilities and planning of the Greeks in preparing for the Athens Games and has been effective in ensuring safe and successful Italian events in the past. ¶9. (C) The OSC, OC and Rome RSO continue to work closely with both senior MOI officials in Rome and the law enforcement community in Turin to further address outstanding emergency contingency planning questions, including venue evacuation procedures, identification of venue commanders, response plans for hostage or WMD situations, and command and control procedures. As we approach the February 10 Opening Ceremonies, we will continue to work closely with our Italian hosts to ensure all USG, USA Sponsor and Corporate America, and USOC security concerns are properly noted and addressed. USG security field liaison components will continue to develop close working relationships with TOROC and GOI law enforcement representatives to ensure we all enjoy a safe and secure Winter Olympic Games. SPOGLI