I tried to stop Bush: Italian PM

News.com.au ^ | 11/14/03

[areafiftyone]

From correspondents in Brussels
November 14, 2003

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said today he had tried to stop US President George W Bush from going to war against Iraq.

"I didn't support every action of the United States. I tried to persuade them not to intervene militarily," Berlusconi said.

"But when I saw there was no way (to prevent it), I stood by the United States."

Berlusconi's statement came as a surprise because he has been a staunch ally of the US administration in the conflict and he is one of the few European leaders who has contributed troops to help rebuilding Iraq.

Berlusconi did press for a UN resolution before the war but had not said publicly before that he tried to talk Bush out of the conflict. He did not elaborate.

The Italian leader was in Brussels for a conference hosted by the European Employers' Association.

Berlusconi said his support for the United States was partly motivated out of gratitude to the Americans who saved Europe from Nazism and Communism over the past century.

He called on Europe not to forget these sacrifices, saying it was necessary to show "loyalty."

[areafiftyone]

How much you wanna make a bet those Brussel Correspondents took this out of context and ran away with it.

[mewzilla]

Considering the source, that's what I'm thinking.

[XJarhead]

If true, I wish he'd kept his mouth shut. On the other hand, I still thank him for standing by us even if he thought we were wrong. That's really the act of a friend.

[smith288]

This is stupid... Even BUSH tried to prevent military action... Someone at news.com.au needs to read a little recent history.

[StriperSniper]

I tried to persuade them not to intervene militarily," Berlusconi said.

"But when I saw there was no way (to prevent it), I stood by the United States."

Bravo Silvio! You're a better American than most Dimocrats!

[woofie]

here is a question for the Liberals ...If the situation was reversed and the world (France and Germany)wanted war in Iraq, but the US (under Dean we'll say) wanted peace ..would it be ok if we acted "unilaterally"?

[Capt. Tom]

It' not Ethiopia anymore for Italy. -Tom

"Eighteen Italians and eight Iraqis were killed by a suicide bomb in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya yesterday, the worst single military loss for Italy since the second world war."

[Dog]

I was just looking at Google news and I don't see this mentioned in any stories. I think they took this out of context.

[HarleyD]

"But when I saw there was no way (to prevent it), I stood by the United States."

Unlike the French and the Germans the Italians may have disagreed with us but stood by us. Didn't Mark Twain say something to the effect a friend is someone who will stand by you even if they think you're wrong. I'm sure it was more pithy but the point is still the same.

[areafiftyone]

I am sure it was. Watch the anti-Bush liberal media pick this up.

[RandallFlagg]

From what I remember, Italy stood as strongly with us as Spain. What's up?!

[kezekiel]

Berlusconi said his support for the United States was partly motivated out of gratitude to the Americans who saved Europe from Nazism and Communism over the past century. He called on Europe not to forget these sacrifices, saying it was necessary to show "loyalty."

I can just hear the chuckling in Bonn and Paris.