Posted on 01/31/2005 4:14:54 AM PST by kattracks
ROME, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Arab countries should "get out of the Middle Ages" and follow the example of Iraq which has held its first multi-party election in decades, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Monday."This vote can lead to a positive contagion in all the other Arab countries where there is authoritarianism, where the condition of women is a condition of non-freedom, of non-dignity, where many more steps have to be taken to get out of the Middle Ages, to leave behind forms of government that certainly are not democratic," he said.
Berlusconi, who made his comments to a talk show on state radio RAI, did not name any countries.
It was not the first time Berlusconi made comments about the supposed backwardness of the Arab or Islamic world.
Several weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, he provoked a firestorm of international protest after praising the "superiority" of Western civilisation over Islam.
The Italian prime minister, one of Washington's staunchest allies, also said on Monday Italy and other countries that supported the United States should be proud of helping Iraqis vote on Sunday.
"This is a result that was made possible by our country's contribution too," he said.
Italy has some 3,000 troops in Iraq, the third-largest contingent after the United States and Britain.
I love Silvo Berlusconi.
Now if we can only get the MSM not to be living in the middle ages.
Agreed - you have to love his candor!
middle ages?
I was thinking 1968.
Islam out of the middle ages? Islam survives on the middle ages' mentality. Ain't gonna happen.
Post Iraq, we're going to see more and more of this proper framing of the debate. No more "root causes", no more blaming the West.
Lay the blame on the right doorstep, which is the primitive and barbaric culture advocated by the Wahabbis (including bin Laden and Zawahiri).
You beat me to it. I was thinking the 60's mindset.
I like that guy Berlusconi. Plus there's all those Italian women, pasta, wine, shoes and Ferrari. What's not to like about Italy.
Ducati motorcycles, too.
How about helping them emerge from the Dark Ages?
Don't you really mean "menopause" rather than "middle ages?"
Bravo! Berlusconi
Middle Ages = Menopause
Suicide Bombers = Hot Flashes?
Sorry, it's too early in the morning.
this guy is awesome
ok we should dump Nato and form a new alliance consisting of Australia, Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark Poland and Japan
rest of the world can bugger off
Is this guy politically incorrect or what?
if Blair said this then he would have to resign within hours, however in Italy it's a-ok! i love it!
Berlusconi, thank you!
"supposed backwardness"?
Supposed??
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