Italy takes step back from U.S.

[citizen snips]

ROME - Recent Italian criticism of U.S. policies, including a military strike in Somalia and the new American strategy for Iraq, underlines a major shift in Rome's approach to Washington under Premier Romano Prodi: the days of Italy's unconditional support are over.

Relations between the two allies have been significantly altered since Prodi took power from former Premier Silvio Berlusconi after April elections. Berlusconi, who led Italy for five years and was a major supporter of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, once said he agreed with Washington regardless of what U.S. positions might be.

But Prodi made clear from the outset that he had different priorities, and Italy's recent criticism of U.S. policies has shown his desire to distance his country somewhat from the United States.

Last week, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema spoke out against a U.S. airstrike on suspected members of al-Qaeda in Somalia, saying Italy was opposed to "unilateral initiatives that could set off new tensions in an area already marked by high instability." Prodi echoed the remarks.

more...
http://www.newsobserver.com/110/story/532783.html

[Greyhound]

1. What amazes me is that there are still countries that (at least pretend to)

still support this waste of space.:kick: