The Army distances itself from what General of Division Roberto Vannacci wrote in the self-produced book "The World on the contrary" in which it targets homosexuals and attacks feminism, environmentalism and illegal immigrants.
"The Armed Forces distances itself from the completely personal considerations (as specified in the text) expressed by the Officer", reads a note. «It should be noted that the Army was not aware of the contents expressed in it and that the same had never been subjected to any authorization and evaluation by the military leaders. In this sense , the Army reserves the right to adopt any measure useful to protect its image".
Vannacci, 55, former head of the Folgore paratroopers and now head of the Military Geographical Institute, speaking of homosexuals and gay couples writes: "You are not normal, get over it!" And again: «Normality is heterosexuality. If everything seems normal to you, however, it is the fault of the plots of the international gay lobby".
Speaking of self-defense, the general does not mince words. If a thief enters the house «because I shouldn't be authorized to shoot him, to pierce him with any object that passes my hands», « if I put the pencil I have in my pocket into the jugular of the thug who attacks me, killing him, why should I risk to be convicted?”
The defense minister, Guido Crosetto, also intervened on the matter: «Do not use the personal rantings of a general in service to argue with the defense and the armed forces. General Vannacci», the government official wrote on Twitter, «expressed
opinions that disparage the Army, the Defense and the Constitution. For this reason, the foreseen disciplinary examination will be initiated by the Defense».
After the controversy, the senior officer spoke of «decontextualized sentences. The criticisms don't bother me at all and I don't reply to Minister Crosetto, I stick to his provisions. What causes me discomfort is the exploitation», he said, after being questioned, and stories have been built on these that do not emerge from the book. I am saddened by the decontextualization and trial of opinions».
