Silvio Berlusconi's Government must explain payments made to insurgents in Afghanistan. There is a case for local deals, but none for unilateralism. War, said Clausewitz, is the continuation of politics by other means. The Times reported this week on a distinctive political strategy adopted by Italy in the war in Afghanistan. Italian intelligence officers have paid money, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, to the Taleban in protection money.
Under the arrangement, neither side would attack the other. When the Italians were replaced by French troops in the Sarobi district of Afghanistan last year, the newcomers believed the region to carry only a low risk, as there had been only one Italian fatality in the previous year. But the Italians neglected to mention the payments. Within a month of their arrival, ten French soldiers were killed and 21 were wounded in a Taleban attack.
The Italian Government has furiously denied our report, including our statement that the US Ambassador submitted a formal complaint about Italian payments to local insurgents in Herat province. Opposition politicians in France are demanding explanations, and ought to receive them. We unreservedly stand by our account. Since its publication, a Taleban commander and two senior Afghan officials have confirmed that this strategy has been practised by Italian forces in this and other regions of Afghanistan...
More at The Times.
Comments
Dbutton, please, what a bunch of debatable comments!
Please consider that this Times article is part of a complex campaign against italian prime minister. It's only a brick in big wall.
The reason behind the campaign are not clear but many think this has something to do with a too close relationship with Russia and Lybia. And please consider that Murdoch group has a big disagreement with Berlusconi due to a tax, that EU wanted, above his satellite TV (Murdoch is at tne moment a monopole in this media in Italy)
I don't know if italian intelligence has paid some "taliban". It's possible but we are not alone for sure. American and british intelligence have paved a long road of bribing afghan tribal leaders. Do you remember of an Herc accident involving a british envoy and his bag full of money?
And all the Sons of Iraq dealing has a big financial "cotè". This is a SOP that everyone Knows.
Last but not least. In Iraq US troop have fired against a civilian car with a freed hostage on board. The ipotetic ransom should have been paid long paid before and surely not in Iraq, as anyone knows about ransoms in Iraq.
For what about lebanon. The Italians had a very different policy from the start. We had no dog in that theater. French and american had their long term goals.
Graycap
This is nothing new. The Italians paid Hezbollah not to hurt them during Beirut "peacekeeping" in the 80's. U.S. was bombed, French were bombed. Not the Italians. They did the same thing in Somalia in the 90's. Then in Iraq--recall the Italian intelligence officer who was shot at by U.S. troops trying to blow a checkpoint while delivering ranson. No one should be surprised. Italian SOP.