Political chaos

So yesterday when I was doing my usual daily internet website checks: Elon's E-net (I really do check it), NPR, itsgettinghotinhere.org... etc etc. I notice a giant headline on NPR that causes me concern: Italian Prime Minister Resigns. Now, I can't claim to know anything about the political situation in Italy. I know what I know, and a lot of things I just look up when I have time and figure the rest out on my own. However, I knew there were problems here when protests were going on the last few weekends against the building of a military base in Venice. It was all over the news, however, it was hard to understand because american newsources just don't cover this kind of stuff. This base had been supported by the prime minister and Italians were way way against it. This is the same prime minister who is against the war in Iraq and called for Italy's removal of troops from the war. He's only been in office (is it called office here?) for 9 months... I checked CNN too because I can't understand anything that is going on the Italian news channel.
CNN is calling it political chaos. Yesterday is was all over the front page on their website. Today it's been replaced by Brittany Spears and Anna Nicole Smith-- obviously we see where our loyalties in the news lie.
However, the BBC has good coverage of what's going on. I also asked my Italian professor to get an Italian perspective on everything (and to try to understand better what's going on). He looked extremely concerned about the whole thing and kept saying that it was "VERY bad". Apparently the prime minister had only been elected/sworn in 9 months ago and for him to resign now is just making a giant mess. Apparently today the president is supposed to decide what to do and Francesco said he can either call for a new election for prime minister, create or switch to a new government... basically, it's going to be crazy here-- and we have to be studying abroad right in the midst of it.
It's strange though, you'd think more people would know about it considering we are here, but most students don't really seem to care or to see the importance of this. Considering I don't even really know what's going on or why this even happened (he resigned because he lost a foreign policy vote??? those things just don't happen in the US). It's also hard to understand because we don't have a prime minister, we don't really have what I could consider an equivalent, and to have someone just decide to quit like this is obviously disconcerting to all Italians.
Today when walking to class I could sense a buzz in the air, there were tons more Italians walking around and talking in big groups and I could only guess as to what they were talking about. If the president decides to hold elections, who knows what could happen while I am here.
I know this doesn't really affect anyone in the United States, but I mean think about it. All of this happens right after major foreign policy decisions that were DIRECTLY associated with our war in Iraq- I say our war because every other smart nation is backing out. Yesterday the prime minister of Britain said they're going to start the removal of troops from Iraq as well. Italy removed theirs a while ago. Who is left that will support this war? Half of the United States doesn't even support the war anymore. How long is it going to take to end this mess?
---End of my politcal rant---

Food field trip tomorrow. Hopefully going to a soccer game this weekend. Other than that it's time to do lots and lots of work as midterms are next week (eep!) and my parents are coming in a week! :)
Ciao!