US embassy cable - 05ROME3632

S E C R E T ROME 003632 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, IZ, IT, IRAQI FREEDOM 
SUBJECT: PM BERLUSCONI'S FOCUS WILL BE IRAQ TROOP LEVELS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Spogli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) The Ambassador called on PM Silvio Berlusconi on the 
eve of Berlusconi's trip to Washington for his meeting with 
POTUS. Berlusconi was accompanied by Under Secretary for 
the Council of Ministers Gianni Letta, Special Assistant 
Valentino Valenti, Diplomatic Counselor Gianpaolo Scarante 
and Minister for EU Policy Giorgio LaMalfa. 
 
2. (S) The Ambassador asked Berlusconi what major issues he 
wished to cover in his October 31 meeting with the 
President.  Berlusconi, who is already fully engaged in 
national campaigns scheduled for next spring, said he wants 
to discuss a "success strategy" in Iraq.  He continued that 
Italy has rotated many soldiers through Iraq with 
relatively few serious incidents and none recently. 
 
3. (S) Berlusconi said he wants to begin a reduction of 
troops.  His goal is to have fewer troops in Iraq 
(currently 2,982) by the April 9, 2006 national elections 
than Italy now has stationed in either Kosovo (3,006) or 
Afghanistan (2,172).  Berlusconi wants Iraq to be the 
smallest of the three peacekeeping missions. 
 
4. (S) The Ambassador pressed on other issues Berlusconi 
might wish to raise and questioned whether Italy would be 
able to maintain its overseas troop commitments in light of 
proposed cuts to the defense budget.  Berlusconi waived 
aside the concern and repeated that the only significant 
issue he wishes to discuss with POTUS is a "success 
strategy" for Iraq. 
 
5. (SBU) In his public statements, the Italian PM 
repeatedly declined to be pinned down on any timetable for 
troop reductions.  He has said only that he would be 
discussing Iraq with POTUS and that any changes would be 
gradual and fully agreed among allies in Iraq and with the 
government of Iraq.  His formulation has been to speak in 
terms of a "success strategy" that will move Iraq further 
toward a stable democracy, not an "exit strategy." 
SPOGLI