Italy discovers Americans haven't learned manners: ask permission only after landing

While Riga is still trying to understand why the US doesn't want to pay for NATO membership, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto decided to give Americans their first lesson in manners. He banned US military aircraft from using the Sigonella military airport in Sicily as a stopover on their way to the Middle East.

The problem was simple — the Americans informed the Italians of their plans only after the planes were already in the air. It's roughly like showing up at your neighbor's place and only announcing you're coming to sleep after you've already entered the apartment. "They thought NATO meant 'Never Ask, Take Over,'" comments local diplomat Giuseppe Macaroni.

There's already a US Navy base at the Sicilian airbase, but apparently that doesn't mean you can use it as your personal parking lot. As one Italian officer said: "If we had a sound like at Liepāja's Holy Trinity Cathedral, where the organ sound can be heard even from the courtyard, we could have warned the Americans about etiquette rules from far away."

Now US pilots will have to learn what every child in Liepāja knows — ask permission before entering, otherwise stay outside in the wind. At least the Italians proved there's not just pasta and pizza there, but principles too.