The Italians, much like the French, don't have an particularly illustrious record of military achievement recently. They have a chance to polish that particular apple, but it looks as though the vote will be a squeaker.
Romano Prodi's fragile government faces another nail-biting vote on the Italian peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.Let's see if they can do the right thing.
It is barely a month since Mr Prodi lost a Senate vote on foreign policy and another defeat could spell the end for the prime minister.
UPDATE: Backing down yet again
-- BRUSSELS, March 27 (Reuters) -- NATO allies raised concern on Tuesday that Italy's handling of a hostage drama in Afghanistan could spark copy-cat incidents and some called for a pact banning deals with hostage-takers.
The United States and Britain had already denounced Italy's decision to release five Taliban last week in exchange for Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who had been held hostage by the insurgent group in Afghanistan.
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