Italian PM Vows to Stay In Iraq Despite Death of 12 Italian Soldiers

Link47 · 04-06-2004, 05:26 PM

Source: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2.htm

Quote:

04/06/2004 02:32:29 PM Italy will not be run out of Iraq: Berlusconi
Tue Apr 06 2004 14:35:35 ET

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusoni vowed on Tuesday to keep his troops in Iraq, saying clashes there which left 12 Italian soldiers wounded would not sway his government.

"We will not cede to armed militias," Berlusconi told Italy's state television network RAI. "These events do not change the purpose of our presence in Iraq."

Twelve Italians were wounded on Tuesday in gun battles with Shiite militimen in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

Italy's Ansa news agency earlier reported around 15 Iraqis had been killed.

Rome, a staunch supporter of the US-led war in Iraq, has some 3,000 soldiers deployed in oil-rich Iraq.

Defence Minister Antonio Martino also rejected the possibility of an Italian withdrawal but added that there were no plans to reinforce troop in the face of mounting Shiite resistance to the US-led occupation.

"We don't think that's necessary for now," the minister told reporters in Brussels.

Spain's incoming Socialist government is planning to pull its 1,300 troops out of Iraq by the end of June unless their presence is covered by a United Nations mandate.

Italy > Spain

04-06-2004, 05:40 PM

losing 12 soldiers is different than losing thousands of innocents in a gigantic fireball.

[ April 06, 2004, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Captain Carter ]

04-07-2004, 04:49 AM

^You just know that someone is going to twist that to fit 9/11 now, don't you?

04-07-2004, 01:37 PM

^Why twist it? It's already a fit.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Lurch1982 · 04-07-2004, 02:15 PM

Losing soldiers in combat thousands of miles away is different than losing civilians at home. If they blow up the Vatican on Easter, then I doubt you'll see Italy in Iraq anymore. Look at sentiment: Spain's people were ardamently against the Iraqi occupation (like in the 80-90% range). One bombing triggered uneasy acceptance to turn into mobs of angry and sad people. That's part of the reason why the socialists took power.

04-06-2004, 05:40 PM	#2
Super Shy Guy Guest Posts: n/a Points: 0 Bank: 0 Total Points: 0 Donate	losing 12 soldiers is different than losing thousands of innocents in a gigantic fireball. [ April 06, 2004, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Captain Carter ]

04-07-2004, 04:49 AM	#3
00bvickers Guest Posts: n/a Points: 0 Bank: 0 Total Points: 0 Donate	^You just know that someone is going to twist that to fit 9/11 now, don't you?

04-07-2004, 01:37 PM	#4
CaptHayfever Guest Posts: n/a Points: 0 Bank: 0 Total Points: 0 Donate	^Why twist it? It's already a fit. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

04-07-2004, 02:15 PM	#5
Lurch1982 Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Katrinaland, USA Gender: Posts: 9,359 Thanks: 122 Thanked 281 Times in 151 Posts Points: 40,673.66 Bank: 493,458.53 Total Points: 534,132.19 Donate	Losing soldiers in combat thousands of miles away is different than losing civilians at home. If they blow up the Vatican on Easter, then I doubt you'll see Italy in Iraq anymore. Look at sentiment: Spain's people were ardamently against the Iraqi occupation (like in the 80-90% range). One bombing triggered uneasy acceptance to turn into mobs of angry and sad people. That's part of the reason why the socialists took power.