True, HOWEVER,
1. the "Italian" influence just made Khaddafi a well-dressed despot. Libya is/was/always will be a mess. Way too tribal. The Italians just gave them better food and much prettier ... everything.
2. Italy will ALWAYS have huge problems because their governments always have been, are and always will be MEGA-corrupt. The Africans couldn't teach THEM anything about government corruption.
I LOVE Italy! Been there a dozen times, bought OODLES of silk everything, gorgeous shoes, purses...and oh my, is their gelato to DIE for.
My favorite was the limone gelato. WOW!!
I was a bit disappointed in Italy. Now Tuscany is beautiful. But the cities I found a bit dirty and full of graffiti.