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Italians pay protection money in Afghanistan

Are NATO forces in Afghanistan trying to defeat the Taliban, or pay them off?

The Italians chose the payoff option, with disastrous results for NATO partners, The Times of London reports.

With allies like the Italians, no wonder it's been so hard to make progress in Afghanistan.

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Posted by Doug Clark on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 8:18 am

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Dogwood

October 15, 2009 - 6:56 pm EDT

Germans were not much help in Kunduz last month (two tankers stolen under their watch). Italians, French and others may be overwhelmed when we leave. The security of the super collider in Switzerland was just breached by an Algerian-French OBL wannabe last week. USA cannot defend Europe if Europeans fail.

Paul Daniels

October 17, 2009 - 11:07 am EDT

Doug: It appears that at least as far as the Spanish and the Italians are concerned, Osama Bin Laden and others were right in their assessment that the west lacks the courage and will to fight this war that must, inevitably, it seems, be fought. Paper Tigers anyone?