The chaotic slipstream of the Arab Revolt is keeping the sensitive oil industry and the nuclear arms race situation in constant turmoil.  Saudi Arabia is ready to cripple Iran's oil exports and strike Syria's energy resources. Berlusconi hopes to beat Obama to an deal for Libyan oil by secretly ...

Three months after the first NATO bombardments in Libya, Italy has called for an immediate halt in hostilities "to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians." debkafile: Since 90 per cent of NATO's air strikes come from bases and command centers in Italy, Rome's pullout badly jolts the entire war effort. Even if France carries on operations from the aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle and Britain from its air bases in Cyprus, the war on Muammar Qaddafi will be seriously jeopardized.

Italian PM Berlusconi said Tuesday the state-controlled oil giant Eni SpA had withdrawn from developing  a southern Iranian oilfield (a small project) and promised to "block new investments in oil and gas."

His silence on current rather than future investments shows which way the wind is blowing. His Israeli hosts withheld comment on Rome's trade ties with Tehran.

 

 "Israel has no bigger friend," said prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Silvio Berlusconi, who begins an official visit to Israel with half a dozen ministers Monday, Feb. 1. According to the fat trade contracts current with Tehran, Italy would be better described as "Iran's biggest friend" - at least, in Europe, and supplier of key components for its nuclear and space programs, as well tunneling equipment and army trucks.