Italy to Iraq

[Hyperion]

Okay, this is a WI based on the 2nd Gulf War, and the involvment of the Italians. In early January of 2003, Italian PM Burlousconi, after difficult discussion, just bairly get permission to commit Italy to the "Coalition" cause, and sends 40,000 troops, including ground forces, an air force of 40-60 warplanes and a dozen or so support craft, no including helicopters, and a naval force, including 4 warships, including a cruiser, and 3 support ships.

Half of the force, 20,000 men, is made up of ground troops that will actuallly enter Iraq, and a third to half of that number will stay after the invasion for peacekeeping and occupation.

How does this play out? While the Italian public will be mad at the government, how will people react in the US, Britain, and other countries, both for and against dealing with Saddam, one way or the other? How will a several thousand extra troops that are also non US affect the situation in the invasion and post-invasion Iraq?

 

[aktarian]

With such large force Italy could demand (and likely get) their own sector. Depending on their policy it would be peaceful or not. If it's peaceful opponents of war will claim "See, only Yanks are incompetent, where other nations are peace reigns". If it's not opponents of war will claim "Incompetent Italians make hash of things again. They are only there because Berlusconi is US lackay."

 

[basileus]

Italy hasn't the material possibility of fielding such a huge army in a single time nowadays. it would require a mssive mnobilization of the STATE, which is fully contrary to Berlusconi's policy, that is dismantling the same state (he is adamant in his drive for feudalism...). Plus, our economy is not exactly in good shape, for a host of reasons, mainly social and demographic.

 

[Hyperion]

Last time I checked, Italy had more men and women in uniform than Britain. They have a modern navy, army, and air force. Keep in mind, only half of that 40,000 would actually set foot in Iraq, and only a third to half of that number would actually stay after the invasion, with another thousand in Kuwait to manage logistics.

Last time I checked the news, the Italians currently run a city in southern Iraq. Can't think of the name, but haven't heard any trouble from there. Aside from that intelligent agent being killed by friendly fire, haven't heard of any torture being attributed to Italian forces, and haven't heard of large numbers of Italian troops dieing, so they apparently have the situation under control. I guess not being US troops gives them some help also.

 

[aktarian]

Last time I checked the news, the Italians currently run a city in southern Iraq. Can't think of the name, but haven't heard any trouble from there. Aside from that intelligent agent being killed by friendly fire, haven't heard of any torture being attributed to Italian forces, and haven't heard of large numbers of Italian troops dieing, so they apparently have the situation under control. I guess not being US troops gives them some help also.

Don't forget that twin suicide bombing that killed 17(?) Carabinieri.

Iraq: Italian Lessons Learned Cheers.

be advised it's .pdf file.

 

[Hyperion]

I'm aware of that event. Not to downplay it, but the Italians and other nations in Iraq haven't taken a lot of fire from the enemy. Why, because they are in the south, and I haven't heard of anything happening down there. Also, they aren't US. They also, most of those troops came in after the invasion.