An Open Letter To Silvio Berlusconi

Dear Prime Minister Berlusconi,

You have my gratitude for being a steady ally of America. Italy's current relations with the United States are indeed those of friendship, and it is because of this that tensions can reveal themselves in civil but deep contrast, as they have lately regarding the accidental shooting of Nicola Calipari.

I have had doubts about Italian versions of events, and still find reason to question them, but regardless of discrepancies in reports there is a mutual, unquestionable belief that the incident was tragic, and that we must take steps to deter repeat occurrences. As you noted, the U.S. has made some progress. All that truly remains to be said is an honest apology from America.

Apologies can hinge more on perceptions than on facts. It is clear many in Italy are angry and feel slighted, and I believe one always apologizes for harming a friend, regardless of whether the one is directly culpable for the injury. Indirect culpability, as is the case here, deserves more than expressions of regret and solidarity, but an acknowledgement that the mistake may be excusable, but is still a grievous mistake. I am not in a position to offer much of worth, but for my part, the people of Italy have my regret and solidarity, and apologies are due for anything my compatriots have done, regardless of flaw or intent, that contributed to the needless loss of Calipari's life, the injuries of others, and the sorrow affecting their relatives, friends, and countrymen.

Recriminations must not derail our countries' just efforts in attempting to light candles in dark times. Calipari's death in particular affects Italy, the United States, and the rest of the world: What I know of his work is that his services in Iraq were to further individual freedom and support a country in greater need than either of ours. So I also want to thank you, Prime Minister Berlusconi, for honoring his memory by continuing to support the Iraq reconstruction for which he put his life on the line.

Bear in mind that some principles are worth more than individual personalities or national pride.

Yours sincerely,

Jeffrey Wheeler

Update: Paolo from the Italian I Love America blog (currently on hiatus) adds:

I agree with what you say, though I wish to underline a thing. You wrote:

> It is clear many in Italy are angry and feel slighted

Well, there aren't angry and slighted Italians here. Or better: There is a COMEDY. A simulated anger enacted by members of extreme-left or extreme-right parties, supported by some journalists, people hating America since 1945 or 1989, nostalgic fascist or Marxist followers. All you read in newspapers is a media hype enacted because of political elections, which are next. Few ballots are important now, so even some moderate politicians are prone to wink at some extremists to gain votes.

Indeed, in Italy if you don't stop at a police control, they can shoot and kill you. It happens. How many young boys without a driver's license have attempted to escape from a police control and were shot and killed?

Lawsuits? Do you remember when newspapers published photos of Italian soldiers in which they were torturing boys and raping women during a peacekeeping mission in Somalia? In 1996 there was a leftist government in Italy. No scandal and especially NO LAWSUIT. Those soldiers were not even put on trial.

This hoopla about the unlucky incident in Iraq that regretfully caused the death of a brave Italian serviceman is a due cost of our commitment to free Iraqi people.

Personally I don't want USA regret for the incident, because there's no guilt. Italians owe USA gratitude only. For 1945 and 1989.

Perhaps, but what does America have to lose by sticking to its story on matters of disagreement, but deferring to Italy on those points where both can agree? A well-worded apology seems wise, something along the lines of "We stand by our findings, as we are sure the Italian government stands by theirs, but we agree that a fatal error occurred involving some of our troops, and we recognize that tragic accidents happen in our imperfect world. As such, we sincerely apologize for any missteps on our part that may have contributed to the incident, and as both reports note we are already taking measures to address them. It also bears repeating that Italy is an honorable ally, having stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States though the brave efforts of men like Nicola Calipari, and so we share the nation's loss."

It is like when someone misunderstands what you are saying, even though you speak what you mean and speak it correctly. You have no reason to apologize for their failure to comprehend, yet you can apologize for being unclear to them by saying, "I am sorry if I led you to misunderstand me." You point out that they made a mistake, but accept that you have the control over what you say, while 'if' (along with 'may have' in the earlier example) sidesteps the matter of actual guilt.

Thank you greatly for your kind words, Paolo.

Update II: Thanks also to Dominic of Serenade (on hiatus as well), whom I give the last word:

However, one point which has not been mentioned much even in the Italian coverage of this event is the existing mis-trust of American military forces. Events like the Cernis tragedy, where US military personnel caused the deaths of 20 civilians but were not even reprimanded, have left a lot of bitterness in the relationship with the US military specifically, as distinct from the USA overall. This, to me, explains why some are very reluctant to believe any explanation or extenuating circumstance provided by the US military or government.

For myself, I have resigned myself to never knowing exactly what happened, but I am satisfied in my own mind that the fault lies at worst about equally on the two sides. I have not seen any convincing evidence that the Italian secret services had liaised with the Americans before carrying out their operation. As for Giuliana Sgrena, if she said that the sky was blue, I would have to go outside and check.

The soldiers at the checkpoint may have been a little trigger-happy, but very understandably so, and in any case this was a factor that the Italian agents should have been aware of in planning.

Anyway, thank you again for your message, and remember that Berlusconi and Bush belong to a very elite club - that of democratically elected politicians who feature in plays and books fantasizing about their murder... This alone should allow them to understand each other very well.