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Berlusconi Comments Cause Stir -- (A MUST READ)
AP ^ | September 26, 2001, 5:06 PM EDT | By CANDICE HUGHES

Posted on 09/26/2001 2:39:00 PM PDT by TheOtherOne

Berlusconi Comments Cause Stir

By CANDICE HUGHES
Associated Press Writer

September 26, 2001, 5:06 PM EDT

ROME -- Breaking ranks with allies reaching out to the Muslim world, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday said Western civilization is superior to Islam. He also said he hopes the West conquers Islamic civilization.

The conservative billionaire's remarks were instantly disavowed by more moderate politicians in Italy, who called them both ill-timed and offensive.

Berlusconi made the remarks, which were broadcast on Italian television, after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the crisis sparked by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

He told a news conference, "We must be aware of the superiority of our civilization, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and -- in contrast with Islamic countries _ respect for religious and political rights, a system that has as its values understandings of diversity and tolerance."

He also claimed Western civilization is superior because it "has at its core, as its greatest value, freedom, which is not the heritage of Islamic culture."

Berlusconi went on to say that he trusts "the West will continue to conquer peoples, like it conquered Communism," even if it means a confrontation with "another civilization, the Islamic one, stuck where it was 1,400 years ago."

His comments came as many Western leaders were taking pains to avoid antagonizing the Muslim world and forge a worldwide coalition against terrorism. President Bush, for example, met Wednesday with American Sikhs and Muslims at the White House and issued yet another appeal for religious tolerance.

The reaction in Italy to Berlusconi's comments was swift and sharp. They were denounced by a number of Italian politicians as irresponsible and inflammatory.

Piero Fassino, a prominent member of the center-left opposition, called the comment "mistaken and, above all, inopportune."

"We're in a very delicate phase in the life of the planet. We need to unite the world against terrorism. And one of the conditions is to unite religions, to have civilizations and cultures cooperate," said Fassino.

An outspoken businessman, Berlusconi has only limited foreign policy experience, despite a brief, previous turn as prime minister in 1994. The allies in his conservative coalition include the often xenophobic Northern League and the once neo-fascist National Alliance.

Italy is home to at least 500,000 Muslims, many of them immigrants from North Africa.

The prime minister plans to visit Washington soon for talks with Bush on the terrorism crisis. A member of NATO, Italy has pledged its full cooperation.

Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clashofcivilizatio
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1 posted on 09/26/2001 2:39:00 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
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To: TheOtherOne
Bravo Berlusconi! Forza Italia!

I really do love this guy.

2 posted on 09/26/2001 2:40:56 PM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: cicero's_son
I take back everything bad I said about the Italians two weeks ago. Wow. Guess we know where he stands now.
3 posted on 09/26/2001 2:42:16 PM PDT by Nuke'm Glowing
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To: TheOtherOne
I'm so glad that someone in Europe has the courage to say what so many of us are thinking.

What is so wrong with asserting the superiority of Western civilization?

4 posted on 09/26/2001 2:42:54 PM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: cicero's_son
Good get. Bravo Silvio!
5 posted on 09/26/2001 2:43:02 PM PDT by LisaFab
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To: TheOtherOne
Breaking ranks with allies reaching out to the Muslim world, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday said Western civilization is superior to Islam. He also said he hopes the West conquers Islamic civilization.

Yea, Berlusconi!

Can we elect this guy King of the World?

(Italian guys can speak the truth because they get to go home to the most beautiful women in the world regardless of what the press makes of their remarks...)

Mark W.

6 posted on 09/26/2001 2:43:12 PM PDT by MarkWar
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To: TheOtherOne
We're in a very delicate phase in the life of the planet. We need to unite the world against terrorism. And one of the conditions is to unite religions, to have civilizations and cultures cooperate," said Fassino. Scary stuff.
7 posted on 09/26/2001 2:43:36 PM PDT by Reagan's_Mom
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To: Nuke'm Glowing
When Berlusconi was elected, I was almost as happy as when Bush (finally) prevailed in the US. I told friends at the time that this would be the first real friend the US has in Europe in at least 10 years.

This guy is fantastic!

8 posted on 09/26/2001 2:43:49 PM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: cicero's_son
Berlusconi is shooting from the hip. What he said, even if true, serves no useful purpose. The guy's mouth should be taped shut. He's an idiot.
9 posted on 09/26/2001 2:44:09 PM PDT by Torie
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To: TheOtherOne
That's eleven things you can't say in America.
10 posted on 09/26/2001 2:45:28 PM PDT by Havisham
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To: TheOtherOne
Well, crap, it's true. By any objective standard, western civilization beats any alternative.

There's nothing that says that arabs can't adopt it, except for fanatics like bin Laden.

11 posted on 09/26/2001 2:45:54 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Reagan's_Mom
Very scary, I agree.

Watch the European media descend on him like a school of starving pirana.

12 posted on 09/26/2001 2:46:10 PM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: TheOtherOne
This guy is working on redefining the term "politically incorrect"!

Bravisimo!

13 posted on 09/26/2001 2:46:28 PM PDT by John R. (Bob) Locke
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To: TheOtherOne
Italy is home to at least 500,000 Muslims...

Should anyone challenge his comments, he merely needs to repeat the above blurb.

14 posted on 09/26/2001 2:46:52 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: TheOtherOne
Berlusconi went on to say that he trusts "the West will continue to conquer peoples, like it conquered Communism," even if it means a confrontation with "another civilization, the Islamic one, stuck where it was 1,400 years ago."

Somewhere, on some American college campus, an America-bashing, flag-burning, PC type, liberal arts professor who read this just fainted.

15 posted on 09/26/2001 2:46:53 PM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore)
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To: Torie
So you'd prefer censorship of a legitimate and widely held position that happens to depart from the current European orthodoxy?

Why?

16 posted on 09/26/2001 2:47:09 PM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: Dog Gone

WesternizeIslam.com is available

I am so tempted, FATWA be damned! Hmm....

17 posted on 09/26/2001 2:50:54 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
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To: TheOtherOne
I get the distinct impression that Berlusconi couldn't care less what an AP bimbo thinks. BTW, isn't her modus operandi obvious? Quote a Leftist in opposition, and remind the reader of the less desireable members of his coalition government. Typical.

(How often have we seen a Leftist Italian administration pilloried for ruling alongside Marxists?)

18 posted on 09/26/2001 2:51:15 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Dog Gone
So true.

Islam hasn't produced a thinker of note since Averroes...and he was born in Spain.

19 posted on 09/26/2001 2:51:28 PM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: MarkWar
BRAVO SILVIO!!!

BTW: Italians are superior to PASTY FACED BRITS IN EVERYTHING!!! Italy is now the fifth wealthiest country in Europe, ahead of the HAS BEEN UK. Italy has better food, friendlier people and prettier women. I just felt I needed to point that out to the SLAVISH ANGLOPHILES on this site.

20 posted on 09/26/2001 2:52:23 PM PDT by Clemenza (Hothead Paisano)
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