Sgrena Gets Her Way

Italy announced yesterday that it will pull its troops from Iraq starting in September.

[Speaking of the withrawal, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan] emphasised that Italy's withdrawal "will be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government to be able to assume more responsibility". But he rejected suggestions that Italy's decision was due to strained relations after secret service agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead by US troops in Baghdad on 4 March.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi expressed no such qualifications, however. Still, this is not alarming news, since Italian troops fulfilled their primary purpose during major combat operations back in 2003: teaching the Iraqi Army how to surrender.

Monk