Reports have surfaced that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intervened to ensure that a report on the killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Baghdad by US troops would not damage relations with Washington.
Newspapers have revealed that Mr Berlusconi had personally demanded changes to the report so that it was not too critical of the Americans and would not sour relations with them.
Rome daily Il Messaggero reported "The head of government asks for changes", while the opposition-supporting La Repubblica claimed "Berlusconi imposes prudence".
"The report must be technical, only technical," it quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying, without giving any source.
"It can even be tough, but it must not in any event prejudice to the slightest degree political understanding with the United States."
Mr Berlusconi is one of Washington's most faithful allies...link
This may not help Mr. Berlusconi's domestic popularity, but Italy, like all other countries, has very limited options with regard to US seizure and extermination of their nationals.
Basically, they can bend over and take it, or they can form a coalition to save the rest of the world from the US.
Because politicians tend to favor option A, it is likely that option B will be a rather scattered and "asymmetrical" effort.