TALLIL, Iraq, April 14, 2004 – Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers visited with Italian members of the Multinational Division Southeast. Italian Brig. Gen. Gian Marco Chiarini, the commander of the 132nd "Ariete" Brigade briefed the American officer and his staff.
The brigade, which is a mix of regular army and police, patrols the area in and around Nasiriyah. There are 2,900 Italian troops and also 600 Romanian and Portuguese soldiers in the unit.
During the meeting, Myers told the Italians that he appreciated them being in Iraq. "By all reports, your performance has been outstanding," Myers said. "Your performance has been absolutely up to the challenge."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gen. Myers joint communicating with our awesome, non-UN-ilateral Italian + allies - in public,