Italian troops killed in Iraq

Three Italian soldiers, and a Romanian, were killed in a bomb attack in Nasiriyah.

Three Italian soldiers and a Romanian serving in Iraq have been killed when a bomb ripped through their convoy near Nasiriyah in the south of the country, the Italian defence ministry revealed.

The ministry had earlier said that three soldiers had been killed, but a fourth died in hospital shortly after the attack.

Leaders across the political spectrum in Italy condemned the attack, which occurred on the eve of the first meeting of parliament following a divisive general election.

Outgoing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who had maintained Italian troops in Iraq in the face of strong public opposition, expressed his "profound pain" on learning of the attack.

Centre-left leader Romano Prodi, whose coalition unseated Berlusconi's in the elections, said the attack was a tragedy that "affects all of Italy."

No word on which group is responsible, but at Publius Pundit, Stefania Lapenna writes:

The Italian troops in Nassiryiah had made it clear to Mr. Prodi that they strongly disagree with an immediate withdrawal. It’s not a coincidence that our troops in Iraq have not voted for Prodi.

Who are the communists in Prodi’s coalition already blaming for the attack? Yes, they’re blaming Bush and Berlusconi.

What should I add more but outrage and disgust?

I don’t hesitate to claim that the terrorists may have thought that by killing our soldiers today they will force Prodi to play the dhimmi he really is and withdraw the troops immediately.

Unfortunately, this is what he’ll do.

Indeed, Italy has made its choice, electing someone who has said he will withdraw Italy's troop soon.

Has Italy forgotten another terrible attack on Italian troops in Nasiriyah in 2003?

Italian military headquarters in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah were blown up November 12 by terrorists who drove a truck through the main entrance to the former chamber of commerce compound bearing more than 800 pounds of explosives. An unusual feature of this worst attack on US allies in Iraq, 30 Italians and Iraqis were killed, was the fact that the Italian leadership had been warned three times by their intelligence officers of an imminent attack on the country's contingent in the city.

There was evidence that attack involved Ansar Al-Islam, a terrorist group that took root in Europe, and Italy in particular, after the initial US invasion of Iraq drove it out of northern Iraq. The group formed a recruiting network which funneled fighters to Iraq, and these fighters were known to have attacked Italian troops.

Italy has seen up close the scourage of Islamic terrorism. Cities like Milan have become centers for the terrorist networks. Militants recruited in Italy attacked Italians. And yet, the Italian people chose to retreat from a firm stand against terrorism. These soldiers killed today served a government that wants to run away from the fight.

Just as disconcerting is this report:

In a telephone conversation with Romano Prodi on Wednesday [Iranian] Vice-President Parviz Davudi congratulated him for being elected as Italian prime minister and said that Iran and Italy can play a special role in promoting world peace and justice by using their political, economic, and cultural potentials.

Iran and Italy can fight terrorism and drug trafficking and help resolve the issues of Iraq and Afghanistan, Davudi added.

Prodi also said that the Islamic Republic plays a key role in promoting security and stability in the Middle East.

Italy is to expand ties with Iran in all areas, he added.

So, not content to withdraw in the fight against terrorism, Italy will cozy up to world's chief sponsor of terrorism.

Among other groups, Iran has provided support for Ansar al-Islam, the group involved in killing so many Italians in Nasiriyah.

What can Italy be thinking?