 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
|
| I N S I G H T -------- Antonio Fabrizio European Balloon Krzys Wasilewski Oh, To Be in England Gavin Ayling Anti-Life Opposition David Holcberg, et al Appeasing Hamas Elan Journo Talking To Iran Condi Rice Obligation To Truth ASH Smyth Darwin's CEOs Atul Bharadwaj |
Ideology gives way to a considered military presence in Afghanistan
By Antonio Fabrizio
Posted: July 15, 2006
The new Italian government, after the center-left coalition narrowly won April elections, is already at risk,
because it could lack parliamentary support on a crucial foreign policy issue, concerning confirmation
of the Italian military mission in Afghanistan, called Isaf mission. Yet several Italian Ministers highlight
the reasons why Italy cannot withdraw its troops from Afghanistan now and why a mission there should
not be put on the same level of the war in Iraq.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, citing his coalition electoral program, indicated that there was a
significant difference between Afghanistan and Iraq: the war in Iraq should be considered as
illegitimate, because Anglo-American forces refused a multilateral perspective and acted unilaterally;
in Afghanistan, instead, there was a United Nations plan and a convergence with allies, in order to
overturn the Taleban regime.
Yet some members of Rifondazione Comunista, PDCI and Verdi, three parties belonging to the center-
left coalition and supporting the government, believe this distinction may not be sufficient. They reject
every kind of military action, their motto being “war on all wars”. Considering themselves as
unconditional pacifists, they say Italy should not have any military presence abroad.
Their position, however, risks to endanger Prodi administration because of ideological reasons, which
do not have the country’s duties in mind. It also indirectly meets the needs of their current opposition,
which aims at a government crisis, in order to have anticipated elections, claiming that April elections
victory was too narrow to be considered as an absolute victory.
As to these ideological reasons, it should be observed that an abstract principle has always to cope
with reality. In international relations a core principle is “world peace”, a principle with which almost
everyone – at least everyone who cares about other countries – agrees. Yet, in those cases where
peace and stability lack, and countries facing menaces request help from multilateral organizations, if
these organizations jointly come to an intervention resolution, any member of those organizations
should give its support to the mission. Which is very different from accepting a “preventive war”
perspective.
Italy has its duties, too. As a country which has resources to help other countries, and as a member of
United Nations, whose main purposes are an overall progress of mankind, a spread of democracy
and a solid and lasting stability of all Nations, Italy is requested to provide its cooperation. Refusing to
do so would affect Italian credibility abroad and weaken Italian effective membership of multilateral
organizations.
The government position was expressed on June 27, in front of parliamentary deputies, by Minister of
Foreign Affairs Massimo D’Alema. He affirmed that Italy should remain in Afghanistan because that is
a UN mission, not a unilateral action: many countries have backed this mission, since it meets the
terms stated by the UN Chart.
D’Alema argued that there is a great difference between Afghanistan and Iraq; therefore, Italian
government is backing Isaf mission, but will not back any longer the mission in Iraq. He expressed the
same concept when he met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, thus informing the American
government that Italy is going to withdraw its troops from Iraq, but will remain in Afghanistan.
D’Alema also addressed those who insist that Italy should withdraw its troops from all conflicts, saying
that they should not confuse these two issues. This is a mission Italy has accepted as a member of
United Nations and European Union, and pulling troops out would be somehow a rejection of its UN
and EU membership and principles.
Yet, D’Alema said he understood why someone in the parliamentary majority may be worried and tried
to persuade them by highlighting two aspects: that everything will be done to avoid a military
escalation; and that a solid plan to bring stability to the country by giving humanitarian and civil support
will be shaped.
But it is not only a matter of credibility; it is also a matter of responsibility. At Sana’a conference in
Yemen on June 26, Emma Bonino, the Italian Minister of Foreign Commerce, said that Italy, in order to
hold an international role, has to accept its responsibilities.
Speaking about Afghanistan, she said she did not agree neither with those who believe that
Afghanistan is going to be a vital democracy in a short amount of time, nor with those who, on the
contrary, feel everything is going worse and worse.
The Minister, who has first visited the country in 1997 and has since then actively worked for its cultural,
economical and social progress, said Afghanistan is halfway from its transformation. Things have
definitely changed since the Talban regime ended; yet, in order to set a modern democracy,
Afghanistan needs time, and Italy’s role should be to contribute to raise a new generation of Afghans
who understand how to live in a democracy.
Therefore, it would be highly irresponsible to leave now, especially if the refusal comes for ideological
reasons. A democratically elected government and its people are asking Italy to stay, she highlighted,
because they need help in reconstruction, and they cannot be abandoned.
The Italian Minister of Defense, Arturo Parisi, who is in charge of military operations, agreed with
Bonino; he reaffirmed the Italian commitment and expressed a core concept, speaking of “shared
responsibility”. But Isaf mission, said Parisi as to reassure balky allies, will not be open-ended, and a
conclusion of operations will take place after finding multilateral agreements; his Ministry is also
planning a reduction in military personnel.
By deciding to stay in Afghanistan, Italian government is showing a great sense of responsibility;
hopefully most parliamentary deputies and senators, both from majority and opposition, will show the
same sense of responsibility. No ideological reasons or tactical manoeuvres would bring benefit to a
people who is in need of support to overcome a difficult phase.
### ### ###
Antonio Fabrizio is a Global Affairs Intern, The Atlantic Affairs.
By Antonio Fabrizio
Posted: July 15, 2006
The new Italian government, after the center-left coalition narrowly won April elections, is already at risk,
because it could lack parliamentary support on a crucial foreign policy issue, concerning confirmation
of the Italian military mission in Afghanistan, called Isaf mission. Yet several Italian Ministers highlight
the reasons why Italy cannot withdraw its troops from Afghanistan now and why a mission there should
not be put on the same level of the war in Iraq.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, citing his coalition electoral program, indicated that there was a
significant difference between Afghanistan and Iraq: the war in Iraq should be considered as
illegitimate, because Anglo-American forces refused a multilateral perspective and acted unilaterally;
in Afghanistan, instead, there was a United Nations plan and a convergence with allies, in order to
overturn the Taleban regime.
Yet some members of Rifondazione Comunista, PDCI and Verdi, three parties belonging to the center-
left coalition and supporting the government, believe this distinction may not be sufficient. They reject
every kind of military action, their motto being “war on all wars”. Considering themselves as
unconditional pacifists, they say Italy should not have any military presence abroad.
Their position, however, risks to endanger Prodi administration because of ideological reasons, which
do not have the country’s duties in mind. It also indirectly meets the needs of their current opposition,
which aims at a government crisis, in order to have anticipated elections, claiming that April elections
victory was too narrow to be considered as an absolute victory.
As to these ideological reasons, it should be observed that an abstract principle has always to cope
with reality. In international relations a core principle is “world peace”, a principle with which almost
everyone – at least everyone who cares about other countries – agrees. Yet, in those cases where
peace and stability lack, and countries facing menaces request help from multilateral organizations, if
these organizations jointly come to an intervention resolution, any member of those organizations
should give its support to the mission. Which is very different from accepting a “preventive war”
perspective.
Italy has its duties, too. As a country which has resources to help other countries, and as a member of
United Nations, whose main purposes are an overall progress of mankind, a spread of democracy
and a solid and lasting stability of all Nations, Italy is requested to provide its cooperation. Refusing to
do so would affect Italian credibility abroad and weaken Italian effective membership of multilateral
organizations.
The government position was expressed on June 27, in front of parliamentary deputies, by Minister of
Foreign Affairs Massimo D’Alema. He affirmed that Italy should remain in Afghanistan because that is
a UN mission, not a unilateral action: many countries have backed this mission, since it meets the
terms stated by the UN Chart.
D’Alema argued that there is a great difference between Afghanistan and Iraq; therefore, Italian
government is backing Isaf mission, but will not back any longer the mission in Iraq. He expressed the
same concept when he met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, thus informing the American
government that Italy is going to withdraw its troops from Iraq, but will remain in Afghanistan.
D’Alema also addressed those who insist that Italy should withdraw its troops from all conflicts, saying
that they should not confuse these two issues. This is a mission Italy has accepted as a member of
United Nations and European Union, and pulling troops out would be somehow a rejection of its UN
and EU membership and principles.
Yet, D’Alema said he understood why someone in the parliamentary majority may be worried and tried
to persuade them by highlighting two aspects: that everything will be done to avoid a military
escalation; and that a solid plan to bring stability to the country by giving humanitarian and civil support
will be shaped.
But it is not only a matter of credibility; it is also a matter of responsibility. At Sana’a conference in
Yemen on June 26, Emma Bonino, the Italian Minister of Foreign Commerce, said that Italy, in order to
hold an international role, has to accept its responsibilities.
Speaking about Afghanistan, she said she did not agree neither with those who believe that
Afghanistan is going to be a vital democracy in a short amount of time, nor with those who, on the
contrary, feel everything is going worse and worse.
The Minister, who has first visited the country in 1997 and has since then actively worked for its cultural,
economical and social progress, said Afghanistan is halfway from its transformation. Things have
definitely changed since the Talban regime ended; yet, in order to set a modern democracy,
Afghanistan needs time, and Italy’s role should be to contribute to raise a new generation of Afghans
who understand how to live in a democracy.
Therefore, it would be highly irresponsible to leave now, especially if the refusal comes for ideological
reasons. A democratically elected government and its people are asking Italy to stay, she highlighted,
because they need help in reconstruction, and they cannot be abandoned.
The Italian Minister of Defense, Arturo Parisi, who is in charge of military operations, agreed with
Bonino; he reaffirmed the Italian commitment and expressed a core concept, speaking of “shared
responsibility”. But Isaf mission, said Parisi as to reassure balky allies, will not be open-ended, and a
conclusion of operations will take place after finding multilateral agreements; his Ministry is also
planning a reduction in military personnel.
By deciding to stay in Afghanistan, Italian government is showing a great sense of responsibility;
hopefully most parliamentary deputies and senators, both from majority and opposition, will show the
same sense of responsibility. No ideological reasons or tactical manoeuvres would bring benefit to a
people who is in need of support to overcome a difficult phase.
### ### ###
Antonio Fabrizio is a Global Affairs Intern, The Atlantic Affairs.
| (c) 2006 New Criterion Foundation, London |
| Security. Ideologies. Multiculturalism. |