SOUTHERN IRAQ: KEEPING ITALY COMMITTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001424

SIPDIS


FROM AMBASSADOR SEMBLER FOR NSA RICE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR OPDC IT IZ IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN IRAQ: KEEPING ITALY COMMITTED

REF: SECSTATE 79427

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) BERLUSCONI IS STANDING FIRM ON IRAQ AND THE NEED TO
CONFRONT MUQTADA AL-SADR IN SOUTHERN IRAQ WHERE ITALIAN
TROOPS ARE OPERATING. THE PRESIDENT'S LETTERS AND PHONE
CALLS TO THE PRIME MINISTER, YOUR CONTACT WITH GIOVANNI
CASTELLANETA, AND SECRETARY POWELL'S LETTER (REFTEL) TO
FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI HAVE ALL HELPED STRENGTHEN ITALIAN
RESOLVE. THE ONE KEY ACTOR TO WHOM WE HAVE NOT REACHED OUT
DURING THE CURRENT PHASE OF HOSTILITIES IS PRESIDENT CIAMPI,
AND I RECOMMEND WE DO SO NOW WITH A LETTER TO HIM FROM THE
PRESIDENT.


2. (C) DESPITE BERSLUCONI'S STEADFASTNESS, WE ARE AWARE OF
SOME CONCERN WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT THAT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT
TO SUSTAIN THE ITALIAN COMMITMENT IF THE PUBLIC COMES TO VIEW
THE CURRENT PHASE OF OPERATIONS AS "OFFENSIVE" IN NATURE,
SINCE THE PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE FOR ITALY'S IRAQ MISSION
JUSTIFIES IT ON "HUMANITARIAN" AND "PEACEKEEPING" GROUNDS. A
DISCUSSION OF THIS PERCEIVED DIVISION BETWEEN AN OFFENSIVE
AND A HUMANITARIAN OPERATION IS LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN
PRESIDENT CIAMPI, AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, CONVENES THE SUPREME
DEFENSE COUNCIL ON APRIL 14. (NOTE: THE COUNCIL LAST MET ON
MARCH 19, 2003 TO CONSIDER ITALY'S POSITION ON COALITION
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ.) BEFORE THAT MEETING, IT WOULD
BE ADVISABLE TO REASSURE CIAMPI ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE WE
ATTACH TO CONFRONTING AL-SADR, THE STRENGTH OF OUR RESOLVE TO
STABILIZE IRAQ, AND OUR DETERMINATION TO TRANSFER SOVEREIGNTY
TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE ON JUNE 30, AND--MOST IMPORTANTLY, GIVEN
HIS CONSISTENT CALLS FOR A UN ROLE--OUR WILLINGNESS TO
CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AT THE
PROPER TIME.


3. (C) I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT PRESIDENT BUSH SEND PRESIDENT
CIAMPI A NOTE FOR DELIVERY NO LATER THAN APRIL 13 ALONG THE
LINES OF REFTEL LETTER FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FOREIGN
MINISTER FRATTINI.

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2004ROME01424 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL