Prodi hands in Resignation

[Sjakihata]

Apparently Romano Prodi, the Italian PM, has handed in the resignation of the current Italian government.

Article

Mr Prodi called a special cabinet meeting after several parties in his centre-left coalition opposed continuing with the deployment of 1,900 troops in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in Vicenza in northern Italy.

It seems that Italy's government is rather US hostile. First the CIA operatives, now this.

Also, Denmark and UK is pulling troops out of Iraq. Is USA losing international backing?

[BDC]

Well Iraq was all part of the plan all along, it's not the UK's fault that America seriously bodged the security in the bits it controlled (which were admittedly a nightmare to start with). Plus Denmark has a whole 480 soldiers there, wow.

Afghanistan is another thing. It's NATO's responsibilty, any member government should be putting in as many soldiers as are needed to get the job done. Pulling out is like waving a big flag saying you don't give a damn about your military alliance, and definitely don't want help at any point in the future.

[Sjakihata]

It's not so much the numbers Im thinking about. Mainly, it is the political backing.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Hmmm....

Any Italians on the .org who can share their sense of how the new goverment will handle these issues?

My guess is that Italy will follow Spain's path in this.

[Adrian II]

Afghanistan is another thing. It's NATO's responsibilty, any member government should be putting in as many soldiers as are needed to get the job done. Pulling out is like waving a big flag saying you don't give a damn about your military alliance, and definitely don't want help at any point in the future.

I agree in principle, but since the main coalition partner has declared Nato a mere alliance of convenience and stated that in future its 'mission will dictate its coalition', there is no reason why other members states would stick to their commitments at all political costs.
But I agree that it stinks. And I hate to see Prodi go.

[BDC]

I agree in principle, but since the main coalition partner has declared Nato a mere alliance of convenience and stated that in future its 'mission will dictate its coalition', there is no reason why other members states would stick to their commitments at all political costs.
But I agree that it stinks. And I hate to see Prodi go.

To be fair to America, they put in a lot more money than anyone else. I mean could the entire of Europe, even working cooperatively, even pull off an invasion of anywhere? Doubt it. Probably don't even have the transport to get men abroad en mass easily.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Oi this is a pity. Prodi was such a welcome relieve after the dark Berlusconi era. I'm still not read-up on any larger picture of the reasons of his resignation, but a shame it is.

the main coalition partner has declared Nato a mere alliance of convenience and stated that in future its 'mission will dictate its coalition'
But this belongs to a different era already. America already realises it shouldn't nor can't do it alone. And apart from that Italy also has obligations to all the other member states.

Also, basing your policy solely on taking a stand against America is reversed lapdogdom. That is, it is still letting Washington decide your policy.
What Italy should've done, like other European nations, is working towards taking care of it's own business, with less fixation on what Washington does or doesn't do, and paying closer attention to Europe. That is, to the quai d'Orsay.