The current crisis in the Persian Gulf has split Jean-Marie Le Pen and Pino Rauti, two leaders of the extreme right wing in Europe, who have voiced sharply differing opinions on how to deal with Iraq.
“Hussein of Iraq, the new Hitler, has succeeded in putting Israel and Syria, Russia and the United States in agreement, but also is causing battles among the fascists of Europe,” commented the Turin daily La Stampa.
The division was sparked by a television interview in which Le Pen, leader of France’s National Front, called Kuwait an artificial nation and said Iraq had done well to remove it from the map.
Rauti, leader of Italy’s neo-fascist Italian Social Movement, expressed surprise and displeasure with Le Pen’s remark.
“It’s incredible, really incredible,” he told Italian reporters. Rauti has voiced opposition to the Iraqi invasion and supports Italian ships being sent to the Gulf.
He said, “Le Pen is mistaken when he talks about artificial nations. Using this reasoning Jordan and an infinity of states and emirates also have borders that can be put under discussion.”
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