After WW2, there was a period of time when it was seriously considered that Italy might come under communist control.  Most famously, you have Operation Gladio[1].<p>If I recall correctly (and I may not, because this is probably colored by some History Channel conspiracy documentaries), there were contingency plans where Sicily would secede to allow NATO to retain a foothold in the Mediterranean, with the CIA relying on Cosa Nostra connections with the Sicillian mafia in order to effect this...<p>Yep, I must have been watching that in between a special on the Mayan calendar, and one on how Stonehenge is a pre-historic alien spaceport...<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Operation_Gladio" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Operation_Gladio</a>