Berlusconi: I tried to convince Bush not to go to war...

10/31/2005

[montreal]

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced that he had tried repeatedly and in coordination with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi to convince the American president not to wage war on Iraq.

JANA reported yesterday that "Italian News Agency ANSA quoted PM Berlusconi in an interview with Italian Channel 7 TV to be transmitted on Sunday as saying I tried repeatedly to persuade the American president not to wage war on Iraq I sought in a joint intervention with the African Leader Muammar al-Qathafi."

JANA added "The Italian PM pointed out but we could not convince the American president to give up his plans to wage the war on Iraq acknowledging that it would have been better if the military action was averted."

[montreal]

No comment !

[rhombus]

in coordination with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi

I'm sure there was no personal interest there. /sarc

[Bigh4u2]

Do you have a link to the article?

[massgopguy]

Stata zeit pagliaci.

[facedown]

Highly doubtful.

[steel_resolve]

You know, just once, I would like a political leader to stand up and say "My fellow countrymen, you may not agree with me about the decision to go to war in Iraq, but I am not going to turn around now and say that it was a mistake, just to save my political skin. Let the chips fall where they may." Damn this ass.

[montreal]

sorry : http://www.minjok.com/english/news.php3?code=770
or http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/051031/2005103129.html

[C210N]

I can see why just Berlusconi was not enough to convince Bush... and maybe Muammar would not have been enough
alone, but you'd think the combined POWER, WEIGHT, and PULL with Berlusconi AND Muammar would have been enough to do the convincing.

[Bigh4u2]

Thanks.

[rhombus]

I was never convinced that war was the best system to achieve democracy in a country that had to emerge from a bloody dictatorship.

I think Mussolini took that position too. /sarc

[steel_resolve]

And not only that, but Mr. Berlusconi, please explain to me the correct way to exit a brutal dictatorship? Maybe sponsoring a UN resolution threatening unspecified consequences? I'm so damn tired of our supposed allies and their cold feet. Wait until bombs start going off in Tuscany and Rome and flights start getting downed leaving De Gaulle airport - you jerks reap what you sow, now get ready to reap the whirlwind.

[rhombus]

Italy's finest moment during the war was when that hostage ripped his hood off, turned around and said to his terrorist captor, "let me show you how an Italian dies". That man's veins flowed with the blood of a Caesar.

[L98Fiero]

I was never convinced that war was the best system to achieve democracy in a country that had to emerge from a bloody dictatorship.

Strange, considering historically, democracy has only come as the spoils of war.

[Sloth]

I can see why just Berlusconi was not enough to convince Bush... and maybe Muammar would not have been enough alone, but you'd think the combined POWER, WEIGHT, and PULL with Berlusconi AND Muammar would have been enough to do the convincing.

ROTFLOL... Yeah, it's hard to imagine some puny President of the United States being able to thwart a geopolitical juggernaut of that magnitude.

[steel_resolve]

Agree completely. Italians are courageous, but where is the will anymore to fight evil? Are we the only ones that have the will? I could say the same about almost any Western European country, and a handful of eastern ones as well. I fear it will take a 911 on European soil to wake them up - and by then it may be too late.

[rhombus]

So many have lived in nice protected worlds for so long they do not believe that evil will ever find them. In fact, some do not even believe evil exists anymore. How many Europeans still remember WWII? That generation is nearly gone now and it's black and white memories are barely real to today's younger generation raised on entitlements.

[ClaireSolt]

There is lots of evil in our midsts that we have tolerated instead of fighting. That has made us morally weak.

[Keith]

"You know, just once, I would like a political leader to stand up and say "My fellow countrymen, you may not agree with me about the decision to go to war in Iraq, but I am not going to turn around now and say that it was a mistake, just to save my political skin. Let the chips fall where they may."

I understand your frustration, but I really believe that that is pretty much what Tony Blair has done....and then he won re-election. I never was a big fan of his, probably because of his friendship with the Bent One, but I am impressed how he has not wavered in spite of withering denigration from his own press and citizens.

[steel_resolve]

Ok, I will give you that one. But then explain to me the deal with him stating that military action is not on the table with reagrds to Iran. I wonder if Iraq soured his stomach for the long fight we have ahead of us.