Italy's new PM, Romano Prodi, calls Iraq war a "grave mistake"

[npincus]

just heard it on WQXR (NY) radio.

[MrTriumph]

1. MSM raced over this huge story: The leader of one of America's best

allies makes this huge statement and the MSM reports it in flashcard style. Flip. Did you see that!?

No follow up about Italy pulling out of Iraq, the damage to Bush's already low standing, the impact on the ground in Iraq as Italy pulls out, etc.

[npincus]

2. I guess Prodi won't be getting a State Dinner.

No, I haven't heard this reported yet in the MSM at ALL. Have you? Not even in flashcard style. I believe he made this remardk today, as he was just sworn in yesterday.

[MrTriumph]

5. If you blinked, you missed it.

I caught a flashcard clip of the quote on CNN.

[cliss]

3. I believe Mr. Prodi

made this an election promise: to bring back the Italian troops from Iraq once he was elected. I know Spain did.

correct?

[npincus]

4. yes, that's right

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2187217,00.html

no timetable- yet. But it looks like it will be a priority.


ROMANO PRODI, Italy’s new centre-left Prime Minister, began to demolish the legacy of Silvio Berlusconi on his first day in office yesterday, vowing to bring home the country’s 3,000 troops from Iraq and calling the war there “a grave error”.
In a stormy Senate debate before a confidence vote, Signor Prodi said that he proposed to withdraw Italy’s troops, “in consultation with our allies”, but gave no timetable. The US-led invasion had “complicated” rather than resolved the security situation by giving terrorists a base and “new excuses”. Signor Prodi added that he would “consolidate and enrich” Italy’s relations with Washington, and remain “on the front line” against terrorism.

But he had to raise his voice to be heard over jeering and whistling from centre-right senators. Although polls suggest that most Italians are against the war and occupation, Signor Berlusconi, Signor Prodi’s centre-right predecessor and a staunch ally of President Bush, sent 3,000 troops to Iraq in “peacekeeping roles”. Signor Berlusconi, narrowly defeated in last month’s election, had already pledged to withdraw the troops by the end of the year.

Signor Prodi, however, is under presure from the hard Left, which forms a key part of his fragile coalition, to pull them out immediately. He also criticised Signor Berlusconi’s economic record, saying that the economy needed “a strong shake-up”. He repeated his election promise to cut labour costs and tackle tax evasion, and vowed to “review” the so-called Biagi law, which makes it easier for employers to hire and fire and introduce short-term contracts.