Crosetto promises disciplinary action for anti-gay general

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 17 - Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on Thursday promised disciplinary action against a general for making homophobic remarks and lashing out at feminism and environmentalism among other issues in a self-published book the contents of which had not been shared or cleared by military bosses.
    "Do not use the personal rantings of a serving general to polemicise with the Defence ministry and the armed forces," said Crosetto on X, referring to the book 'The world back to front' by 55-year-old General Roberto Vannacci, who currently directs the Italian Military Geographic Institute (IGMI).
    "General Vannacci has expressed opinions that discredit the Army, Defence and the Constitution. For this reason, the Defence ministry will start the foreseen disciplinary examination," he added.
    "The Armed Force distances itself from the entirely personal considerations (as specified in the text) expressed by the officer," read a separate statement from the army, adding that the force reserved the right "to take all measures necessary to protect its image".
    In his book Vannacci, formerly head of the Folgore paratroopers, says of homosexuals: "You are not normal, come to terms with it!", insisting that "normality is heterosexuality".
    "If everything seems normal to you, however, it is the fault of the plots of the international gay lobby," he adds. He also speaks strongly in favour of self defence: If a burglar enters a house, "why should I not be authorised to shoot him, to stab him with whatever object I can get my hands on?".
    "If I plunge the pencil I have in my breast pocket into the jugular of the mug that attacks me, killing him, why should I risk being condemned?" (ANSA).