Sicilian Culture: News: US & Italy Discuss Military Support

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US & Italy Discuss Military Support
By Pauline Jelinek, The Associated Press
OTHER NEWS FROM ITALY-NEWS.COM BELOW
WASHINGTON (AP) - American warplanes launched daylight and nighttime attacks over Afghanistan Monday as the Pentagon worked to line up more foreign troops for the anti-terrorism campaign....
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said in a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that the Pentagon was talking with Italy about the possibly of contributing Italian troops for the fight in the Gulf region as well to fill in other places where U.S. troops are ``stretched a bit thin.''
``I'm here in the United States to be with you in this fight against terrorism,'' Berlusconi said. ``It will be a long fight, but I'm sure that we will win ... by substituting fear with courage.''
He said two Italian officers were at the U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla. to figure out ways Italy could help.
Berlusconi said last week that he hoped Washington wouldn't ask for ground troops in the war on terrorism. And he said he expected to be asked instead to increase Italy's presence in the Balkans.
Wolfowitz confirmed the Pentagon might want Italian troops to take over some U.S. peacekeeping duties in the Balkans to free American troops from the duty. He said Italy could also play a role in the Afghanistan/Gulf region but wouldn't elaborate.
``Italy has played a very big role in the Balkans and obviously that's one of the places where we're feeling a certain amount of strain,'' Wolfowitz told reporters outside the Pentagon. ``So that's obviously a place where Italy might play a larger role.
``But I think Italy also can play a direct role in ongoing operations in a number of ways that we're investigating,'' he said...
Meanwhile the USS Theodore Roosevelt was getting into position in the region Monday, bringing to four the number of aircraft carriers involved in the campaign....

WASHINGTON: FINI BACKS US POLICY WITH STRONG WORDS
Vice-premier Gianfranco Fini was in Washington D.C. yesterday where he announced, "Today we have a duty: all people who believe in democracy must be united against terrorism.A future of peace and security cannot be attained as long as there is one terrorist on the loose. The twin towers have fallen, but America will not" Mr. Ruggiero went on to say that the solidarity of the Italian government and people with that of America is total. "The war, as President Bush stated will be long and hard, but I know that we will prevail. No good American and no good Italian will ever back down"Mr. Ruggiero said.
RUGGIERO ON DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO MIDDLE EAST
Italian Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero left today for a two-day whirlwind tour of Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Turkey for a series of meetings with the nations' leading politicians to discuss bilateral relations and the current international crisis. The first leg of the minister's trip will begin tonight in Beirut where he will meet with the Lebanese president and various government officials. He will then leave tomorrow to meet with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Damascus. Later in the day he will travel to Tehran and finish up his journey in Ankara.
ITALIAN AND ENGLISH PRIME MINISTERS MEET IN GENOA
Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi met with Great Britain's prime minister Tony Blair, as the latter was returning from talks in the Middle East. Both leaders acknowledged after their meeting that they shared the same views on foreign policy. They agreed that the United States, Russia and the European Union should make a strong effort to restart the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in a move that will hopefully cripple international terrorism...
MILAN MAYOR WILL MARCH FOR AMERICA
The mayor of Milan, Gabriele Albertini, announced his participation in the Pro-America March planned by Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italia party on November 10. In an interview for "Il Foglio," he elaborated: "Milan's city council decided that I will march in Rome, with the city's banner." Milan's first citizen blew away criticism from the political opposition about his participation and defended himself, saying that he wanted to avoid being accused of anti-Americanism. He added: "Does it bother anyone? My post is available." Emma Bonino's Radical Party will also participate in the event....
President Bush and Italian Prime Minister Discuss War Effort Remarks by the President
and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi in Photo Opportunity on The Colonnade
12:11 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: It's my honor to welcome the leader of one of our nation's best friends, the Prime Minister of a country that has had so much to do with our nation and its development.
I'm also pleased to be able to give him a lunch -- after all, I had one of the best lunches I've had since I've been the President because of the Prime Minister. We had a long discussion about our mutual desire to rout out terrorism where it might exist. He understands as well as I understand that the war on terrorism will be waged on many fronts, and I'm so pleased with the efforts of his government to join with us in disrupting the financial networks of terrorist organizations. I'm pleased that we're sharing intelligence. I'm pleased that the Prime Minister understands that al Qaeda has cells all around the world and he's more than willing to work with us to disrupt those cells, to bring people to justice. We're making progress.
One reason we're making progress is because we've got good, strong friends such as the Italians and the Italian government.
So, Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. It's my honor to have you here.
PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI: Thank you, Mr. President, I am here, first of all, to express our great pain and sadness for the attack on September the 11th and to say to you if the same attack had been -- had occurred on an Italian city we would have felt the same pain as you are.
And also I'm here to express to you our desire to be as close as possible and to provide both moral and material support.
As I mentioned earlier this morning, this attack was an attack not only against citizens, but also against freedom and liberty. The U.S. is the defensor of liberty all over the world, and that's what this attack was about.
THE PRESIDENT: We'll answer a couple of questions.
Q These anthrax attacks, sir, do you believe that there is any connection to bin Laden's organization? Your Vice President, on Friday, seemed to indicate there may be some possible link.
THE PRESIDENT: There may be some possible link. We have no hard data yet. But it's clear that Mr. bin Laden is a man who is an evil man. He and his spokesmen are openly bragging about how they hope to inflict more pain on our country. So we're watching every piece of evidence. We're making sure that we connect any dots that we have, to find out who's doing this. I wouldn't put it past him, but we don't have hard evidence, yet.
Q Do you have anything that points towards bin Laden, besides your gut? And has there been any other reports of anthrax tainted mail being received by U.S. businesses or government offices today?
THE PRESIDENT: There has been today. I just talked to Leader Daschle. His office received a letter, and it had anthrax in it. The letter was field tested. The staffers that have been exposed are being treated. The powder that had been field tested is now, obviously, going to the CDC lab.
Beyond that, I don't know more about it. I spoke to the Leader; he is, obviously, concerned, as am I. The key thing for the American people is to be cautious about letters that come from somebody you may not know, unmarked letters, letters that have got -- that look suspicious. And give those letters and packages to local law authorities.
Again, the process is working; but, today, the Senate Majority Leader, his office did receive a letter.
Q Was it definitely anthrax, or just a preliminary test, do you know?
THE PRESIDENT: The field test shows it to be anthrax. Ron, there's more tests being conducted as we speak. The Leader believes it is anthrax, but we'll find out more as time goes on.
They've got the letter. As he said, it was a letter that had been wrapped a lot and that the powder was within the confines of the -- within the envelope. It wasn't on the outside of the envelope, it was within the envelope. And a staffer opened the letter. They obviously became suspicious of the material within the letter and immediately called in for a field test. The field test was done, shows it to be anthrax, and then all people are being treated.
Q India says it opened fire on Pakistani positions in the Kashmir region today, this just an hour or two after Secretary Powell landed in Pakistan. How helpful is something like that?
THE PRESIDENT: I haven't see a report yet, John. And I think it is very important that India and Pakistan stand down during our activities in Afghanistan; stand down, for that matter, forever.
But I am -- I need to find out more about the report; I will find out more about the report. As you noted, our Secretary of State is in the region. One reason he's there is to talk to both sides about making sure that there is no -- that if there are tensions and, obviously, there are, that they be reduced, that we are mindful that activities around Kashmir could create issues in that part of the region, particularly as we're conducting our operations in Afghanistan.
Q Mr. President, you have mentioned that you would -- the other evening in your press conference, that you would like to see more action from the allies. And you mentioned what the U.K. is doing. What would you say about what Italy has done? And what was the subject of your conversation? Would you like to see something more done by Italy? And, also, from Europe, would you like to see more economic action from the European side to help the U.S. economy? Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. First of all, we're taking measures here at home to get our economy started. There is some optimism, as some numbers recently have shown that consumer confidence is getting stronger, that people are getting to get on the airways more, that people are traveling. So there are some positive signs.
I hope to work with -- I am working with Congress and hope to get a stimulus package that will dovetail nicely with the tax cuts we had this summer, coupled with some of the spending measures we've taken since September 11th.
First of all, I'm very pleased with the cooperation and support of Italy. They have been very strong from the beginning. The Prime Minister has been very, not only supportive, but has asked how to help in significant ways to fight terrorism.
Again, I repeat to you, this is a war that's going to be fought on a variety of fronts. One such front will be to disrupt financial -- the finances of the terrorist organizations. And he was discussing with me some executive orders that had been taken recently that showed Italy's desire to be very firm about disrupting finances. There is a sharing of information that goes on.
I'm confident that if we put out the word that we needed more help from Italy they would be more than willing to help. Each of us has a role to play. And the Italian government, under this good man's leadership, is playing a very significant role.
We're going to go eat lunch. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI: Grazie.
President Bush and Italian Prime Minister Discuss War Effort
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/20011015-3.html
AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND ITALIAN PREMIER PLEDGE TO FIGHT TERRORISM TOGETHER
At the conclusion of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's official visit to the United States, President George W. Bush gave a press conference in the White House Rose Garden. The president thanked the prime minister for "our mutual desire to rout out terrorism where it might exist," and said he was grateful that both were on the same line in their understanding that the war on terrorism will be waged on many fronts. He mentioned disrupting financial networks and sharing intelligence as two key elements. The president continued saying: "I'm pleased that the prime minister understands that Al Qaeda has cells all around the world, and he's more than willing to work with us to disrupt those cells, to bring people to justice." Premier Berlusconi, speaking through an interpreter, characterized the United States as "the defender of liberty all over the world." He reiterated Italy's unconditional support and said he was departing with the satisfaction that he had found great closeness on both a political as well as a human level in a meeting where there had been a total confluence on all themes discussed.
CIAMPI-BERLUSCONI SUPPORT MILITARY ACTION
"The full support of Italy in this crucial phase of the fight against terrorism" was confirmed after a meeting between Premier Silvio Berlusconi and the President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
A statement released by the Quirinal said that Italy "assumes its responsibilities alongside the United States and other friendly nations," and will give its support to any actions determined necessary, including military intervention. The statement emphasized Italy's presence among the broad-based coalition defending the "endorsed principles of the UN charter corresponding to a sentiment shared by the nation."
BERLUSCONI TO MEET WITH BUSH IN WASHINGTON
Premier Silvio Berlusconi was invited to travel to the White House in Washington, D.C., to meet with American President George W. Bush. According to the premier's undersecretary, Paolo Bonaiuti, "Berlusconi had a long and friendly telephone conversation with President Bush in which he said he would be happy to accept the invitation."
WALL STREET JOURNAL RE-EVALUATES SILVIO BERLUSCONI
The European edition of the financial daily The Wall Street Journal wrote a favorable opinion of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi after his official visit with the president of the United States, George W. Bush. It reported that "Silvio Berlusconi has more intellectual weight than the weight of his intellectual critics combined." The newspaper attacked Europe's left-wing thinkers, who sketch the prime minister as "a thief, or worse, a media magnate who only seeks to protect his own interests. But, paradoxically, his critics only reinforce his true value."
49 ITALIANS TO PATROL US SKIES ABOARD SPY PLANES
Minister of Defense Antonio Martino announced during a special broadcast of "Door to Door" that five AWACS radar planes with 49 Italian military personnel onboard have departed for America.
The planes, part of a task force stationed in Germany that includes 100 Italian personnel, will fly cover over the United States in an effort to prevent terrorist retaliation for the ongoing bombardment in Afghanistan.
OLIVE TREE SPLIT IN ITS SUPPORT OF AFGHANISTAN ATTACKS
The Ulivo (Olive Tree) center-left coalition is split in their support of the British-American led attack on Afghanistan. The coalition will present two different motions before Parliament after a meeting broke-up yesterday that was supposed to have solidified a unified platform. The Democratic Left and the Margherita [Daisy] Party have both approved of the administration's support of the military action....
(However) the Verdi [Green] Party and the Italian Communist Party [PDCI] have both condemned the bombardments, imploring the executive to not declare war in any way.

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