- US Army opens new $310 million base in northern Italy - “I am very proud to say it is the most beautiful base of any army of any nation that I’ve seen around the world,” said Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, the No. 2 Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. http://www.stripes.com/news/us-army-opens-new-base-in-northern-italy-1.228494 7 comments politics