Italy Would Contribute Troops and Hardware to Iraq War: PM Berlusconi

Tehran Times ^ | Februari 04 2003

[knighthawk]

ROME -- Italy will contribute troops and weaponry in the event of a U.S.-led war on Iraq, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Tuesday.

"If there is a military intervention, we're ready to contribute men and military hardware just as we did for Afghanistan," Berlusconi said after talks in Rome with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. "We are standing behind the United States."

But Berlusconi said Italian resources would be deployed only after military intervention had begun, and would focus on the provision of humanitarian aid, logistics and policing in a defeated Iraq.

Berlusconi said he hoped any military action would be "legitimized" by a new United Nations resolution.

Italy was among eight European governments that published a joint letter in support of a U.S.-led war, in a snub to attempts by France and Germany to forge a common European front around their opposition to military action.

[knighthawk]

"We are standing behind the United States"

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[VRWC_minion]

The coalition grows.

[mlmr]

Italians hate Germans and despise the French. It is interesting that they are suppporting the US. Italy has a large Muslim population.

[Marines981]

Italy has some die-hard christians in there that understand who is out there and how to dish them down...

The only thing I hate in italy is the spaghetti :P

[shaggy eel]

,,, Europe comprises a whole lot of tribes who hate each other. Muslims make up about 10% of France's population. I doubt Italy's muslim segment would run as high, but I'd imagine Italy would assume a quicker and more confident response to any problems arising from muslim unrest further downstream.

[pbear8]

So this means that I can stay at the Venetian and the Bellagio whilst in Las Vegas but not the Paris-Las Vegas, right?

[uncbuck]

Hey, the Romans kicked a$$. We could always use some a$$ kickers in on this.

[Gamecock]

Mama mia! We will help the Americans! < /cheesy Italian accent>

Seriously, we traveled throughout Northern Italy for 2 weeks back in '93. Loved the Italians, very charming people. It's good to know who our friends are.

[Sparta]

[RobFromGa]

America and the world will remember who stood behind us in the liberation of a tortured, oppressed Iraqi nation and the simultaneous disarmament of a brutal, nut-case dictator.

Italy is to be congratulated for an excellent decision.

See how it is done, Jaqqqkkwe and Gerhhhhardttt. You couple of moronic imbecilic elitist Anti-civilzation idiots.

[RecentConvert]

God bless Italy and Berlusconi.

[RecentConvert]

Italians hate Germans and despise the French. It is interesting that they are suppporting the US. Italy has a large Muslim population.

---

I disagree with your comment about Italians hating the Germans but concur with the French comment.

Also Italy does NOT have a large Muslim population. Where did you get this datum? I don't know the exact demographics, but no more that 1% is Muslim in Italy and maybe even less than 1%.

Please show us the numbers or if you dont know wha you're talking about, keep mum.

[RecentConvert]

I doubt Italy's muslim segment would run as high,

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Less than 1% are in fact muslims.

[mlmr]

I read that during the EU formation that Italy had very permeable borders and that they did not stop Arabic and north African migration. It was a big issue in EU. I am not sure how it was resolved.

[Leroy S. Mort]

I read that during the EU formation that Italy had very permeable borders and that they did not stop Arabic and north African migration.

Very true. Ask Hannibal. Word to the Italians: Check for elephants at each border crossing.

[RecentConvert]

"I read that during the EU formation that Italy had very permeable borders and that they did not stop Arabic and north African migration. It was a big issue in EU. I am not sure how it was resolved."

Yes, it's true that Europe has had and continues to have problems with immigration especially African and Arabic/Muslim, just as the USA is having problems with its pourous Southern borders.

I'm not familiar how the Europe and the EU is currently dealing with immigration, but I remember reading Berlusconi being heavily critized in Italy in his attempts to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.

Hopefully the EU and the rest of Western Civilization will come to their senses and close the immigration floodgates before it's too late.

[ffusco]

You know how "disorganized" they are over there, I bet it takes 10 years to get a permit for a new mosque. ; )

[Bonaparte]

"Italy has a large Muslim population."

Muslims represent ~1% of the 58,000,000 people living in Italy. The Italians are not particularly fond of them.