Bush enlists Berlusconi aid on Iran, Afghanistan

Reuters ^ | 6/12/08 | Matt Spetalnick and Robin Pomeroy

[Dawnsblood]

Italy has about 2,700 troops in Afghanistan but has so far -- like France, Germany and Spain -- been reluctant to send them to the south and east where the Taliban are most active. This has caused tension with the NATO command and Washington.

Since coming to power in May, Berlusconi's government has talked of "limited" deployment to combat zones but Bush said he went further and talked of scrapping the so-called "caveat".

"I appreciate very much the fact that the government announced to the parliament with your instructions, Mr Prime Minister, that the caveats that have restricted your forces in Afghanistan have been removed ... ," said Bush.

The personal sympathy between the pair was evident in their smiles and hand clasping before their talks in Villa Madama, a Renaissance villa designed by Raphael for the Medici family.

The two leaders also share a clear preference for who should win November's U.S. election, between the young Democrat Barack Obama and veteran Republican senator John McCain.

"I can't avoid expressing my very personal preference for the Republican candidate, because if he wins I would no longer be the oldest," said Berlusconi, who looks younger than his 71 years thanks partly to a hair transplant and cosmetic surgery.

"I was born on September 29, 1936 and he was born on August 29, so he is a month older than me," said the Italian premier.