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### Viewing cable 10ROME174, SECDEF MEETING WITH ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
10ROME174 | 2010-02-12 13:01 | 2011-02-22 11:11 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Rome

`

    VZCZCXRO2519
    PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL
    RUEHTRO
    DE RUEHRO #0174/01 0431327
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 121327Z FEB 10
    FM AMEMBASSY ROME
    TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0584
    RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 0482
    RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 4039
    RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 4267
    RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3273
    RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1071
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3081
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000174

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    OSD FOR USDP-ISA-EURNATO

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2020
    TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR NATO IT AF IR
    SUBJECT: SECDEF MEETING WITH ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO
    BERLUSCONI, FEBRUARY 6, 201...

    Classified By: Alexander Vershbow, ASD/ISA for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

    ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (SecDef)
    met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during an
    official visit to Rome on February 6, 2010.  SecDef thanked
    Berlusconi for Italy's pledge of more Italian troops for
    operations in Afghanistan and assured him that the creation
    of RC-SW will not intrude on Italian operations in RC-W.
    Berlusconi pledged Italy's full support for sanctions efforts
    against Iran, sharing SecDef's assessment of the dire
    implications should Tehran successfully develop nuclear
    weapons.  Berlusconi provided Italian insights on the
    Israeli-Palestinian conflict, encouraging strong American
    leadership.  SecDef said the issue remains a high priority
    for the Obama Administration.  In relation to the Abu Omar
    case, SecDef requested GOI's advocacy on recognizing U.S.
    jurisdiction over Colonel Joseph Romano under the NATO SOFA.
    Berlusconi expressed optimism that the matter will be
    resolved favorably during the appeals process.  END SUMMARY.

    -----------
    Afghanistan
    -----------

    ¶2.  (S/NF) Prime Minister Berlusconi opened the discussion
    with a lengthy discourse on the state of Italian national
    politics, assessing that his government is on solid ground.
    He asserted that ""Italy wants to be the best friend of the
    United States.""  SecDef explained that both Presidents Bush
    and Obama believed this to be true.  After briefly thanking
    Berlusconi for Italy's efforts in Haiti, SecDef applauded
    Italy's contributions to Afghanistan, noting that ISAF
    nations must loosen caveats to allow effective partnering
    with Afghan forces.  SecDef explained that once the U.S.
    completes its force increases, there will be nearly 60,000
    troops in RC-South -- too great a number for one commander.
    This was the reason for the proposal to split the command and
    create an RC-SW in Helmand and Nimroz provinces.  SecDef
    promised that it would not intrude on Italian forces in
    RC-West.  Berlusconi said he was satisfied that it will not
    be a problem.

    ----
    Iran
    ----

    ¶3. (C)  As a prelude to a detailed discussion on Iran, SecDef
    briefly outlined the phased adaptive approach to European
    Missile Defense, explaining that a revised threat assessment
    and better technology had led to the new approach.  SecDef
    enlisted Italian support for a NATO commitment to missile
    defense at November's Lisbon Summit.  SecDef recognized there
    were legitimate questions about cost and C2, and promised
    that the U.S. would provide detailed answers soon.

    ¶4. (S/NF)  SecDef recalled his long involvement in U.S.-Iran
    relations, including his participation in the first U.S.
    meeting with the new revolutionary government in 1979.
    Noting that every American president since then has tried to
    reach out to Iran, SecDef asserted that President Obama's
    approach has been the most sincere, energetic and principled.
     He outlined the multiple opportunities -- including the
    Tehran Research Reactor proposal, the IAEA's inspection of
    the Qom facility, and multiple private offers for dialogue --
    that Iran has been given to reassure the international
    community of its intentions.  All of these approaches,
    however, have been rejected by Iran.

    ¶5. (S/NF) SecDef expressed deep disappointment in Tehran's
    lack of responsiveness, reminding Berlusconi that Italy's
    role is vital and pointing out the opportunity for
    leadership.  SecDef explained that it was clearly time for a
    new UNSC resolution, which would give nations and the EU a
    legal basis for even harsher action.  He recounted the dire
    consequences of a nuclear Iran, including proliferation by
    other countries in the Middle East, a military response by
    Israel at some point, or both.  Sanctions must be applied to
    get Tehran to change course and agree to a negotiated
    solution.

    ¶6. (S/NF) Berlusconi agreed and recounted recent
    consultations with Israeli leaders, including military
    commanders, during his recent visit to Tel Aviv.  Recalling
    the tragedy of the Holocaust, Berlusconi said he believes the
    Israelis will not follow the path of some German Jews in the
    1930s, who discounted Hitler's threats as political
    demagoguery.  Given Ahmadinejad's promises to eliminate the
    Israeli state, Berlusconi speculated that Tel Aviv would
    strike, possibly with nuclear weapons, against Iran if Tehran
    were close to acquiring nuclear weapons itself.  He added
    that no one, including President Obama, could stop Israel if
    it sensed an existential threat -- noting his belief that
    Israel has operational plans on the shelf.

    ¶7. (S/NF) SecDef cited an Israeli military exercise that flew
    842 kilometers to Greece, pointing out the distance between
    Israeli air bases and Iran's nuclear reactor is 840
    kilometers.  Berlusconi took the point, and asked the U.S. to
    exert strong leadership in pressuring Iran.  He added that
    Iranian actions against protesters were morally unacceptable
    and he cautioned that sanctions should not target the general
    population but instead aim to weaken the government.  SecDef
    explained the manifold business interests of the IRGC --
    Ahmadinejad's ""storm troopers"" -- and his confidence that
    sanctions could be targeted against them without
    significantly harming the people.

    ¶8. (S/NF) Berlusconi noted that Italian businesses have had
    interests in Iran for 50 years.  He referred to a
    particularly lucrative contract between the Italian energy
    company ENI and Iran that must be fulfilled in light of
    significant penalties for non-compliance.  He asserted,
    however, that ENI has chosen not to renew the contract
    because of concerns about Tehran's actions.  Berlusconi
    recounted conversations with Russia, saying he had lobbied
    them against missile production that can aid the Iranian
    military.  Berlusconi said he would soon attend an EU Summit
    to address Iran, believing that a preemptive strike by
    Israeli on Iran would be disastrous.  SecDef appreciated
    Berlusconi's sense of urgency, reminding him that history has
    consistently shown that tyrants are clear about their
    intentions and noting Ahmadinejad's promise to wipe Israel
    from the map.

    ----------------
    Israel-Palestine
    ----------------

    ¶9. (S/NF) Berlusconi explained his efforts to get
    Palestinians back to the negotiating table by offering to
    host the negotiations and pay for all the costs.  He detailed
    an idea he had introduced in 1994 about a ""Marshall Plan"" for
    the region, whereby he would entice the world's biggest
    companies and hotels to invest in the West Bank and build an
    airport there.  He doubted Israel would allow investment to
    happen given the current circumstances, but said the offer is
    still on the table.  SecDef agreed that we must work together
    and stated that the Middle East Peace Process would be one of
    President Obama's highest priorities in 2010.  Berlusconi
    argued that the issue has global implications.  SecDef
    concurred, noting that the global security environment is as
    complex as ever.  He noted that we keep adding new problems
    like piracy to the list of challenges without solving the old
    ones.

    ------
    Africa
    ------

    ¶10. (C) In a brief exchange, Berlusconi noted his concern
    about the Horn of Africa.  Because of Italy's colonial
    experience in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, it had an acute
    understanding of the depravity of the region that allows
    problems like piracy to take root.  SecDef commented that
    much of Africa had looked to the Soviet model in the
    post-colonial period -- an unfortunate choice that guaranteed
    poverty, and an error from which most of Africa has not yet
    recovered.

    -----
    China
    -----

    ¶11. (S/NF) Berlusconi recounted a recent trip to China by his
    daughter, a recent U.S. college graduate, which left her
    distraught.  He explained that between urban migration and
    university graduates, China is adding 24M workers to its
    workforce each year.  Italy has 23M workers in its entire
    economy -- in other words, China annually increases it
    workforce by the total size of Italy's.  Berlusconi noted
    that many Italian companies will withdraw tenders if
    competing against a Chinese company, especially in Africa.
    SecDef noted that China has two major challenges.  First, in
    Africa, natural resource extraction using imported Chinese
    labor is causing significant resentment among African hosts.
    Second, in order to add 20-30M jobs to its workforce yearly,
    China must grow its GDP by 8-10 percent each year.  SecDef
    added that the source of internal stability in China is an
    improving quality of life for its citizens, and that Chinese
    leaders are ""scared to death"" that this is not sustainable.

    -----------
    Romano Case
    -----------

    ¶12. (S/NF) In closing, SecDef asked Berlusconi for his
    assistance in affirming U.S. jurisdiction over Colonel
    Romano, one of the defendants in the Abu Omar case, under the
    NATO SOFA.  Berlusconi and Cabinet Advisor Letta assured
    SecDef the GOI was working hard to resolve the situation.
    Berlusconi gave an extended rant about the Italian judicial
    system -- which frequently targets him since it is ""dominated
    by leftists"" as the public prosecutor level.  Berlusconi
    predicted that the ""courts will come down in our favor"" upon
    appeal, noting that higher-level appellate courts are
    significantly less politicized than local courts.

    ¶13.  (U) SecDef has cleared this cable.  Drafted by OSD Staff.
    DIBBLE
    "

`