December 22, 2003
According to this article, it appears that Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi understands the importance of freedom:
Mr Berlusconi said he told President George W Bush during an informal chat in the margins of last June's G8 summit in Evian that the concept of "liberty" that emerged enhanced from the ashes of the September 11 attack should become a guiding light for the world's democracies.
Even more illuminating is the insider information he has regarding Gaddafi's recent recent change of heart. No, it is not an example of diplomatic triumph to be rubbed in the noses of the coalition which freed Iraq. Instead, Berlusconi demonstrates that the progress in Libya is a direct result of the liberation of Iraq and the capture of Saddam:
A spokesman for Mr Berlusconi said the prime minister had been telephoned recently by Col Gaddafi of Libya, who said: "I will do whatever the Americans want, because I saw what happened in Iraq, and I was afraid."
(Hat-tip to Say Anything)
