Conversations between Berlusconi and his Prostitute

What follows are short extracts from recordings taken by Berlusconi's prostitute, Patrizia D'Addario and published by L'espresso.

PDA: A young man would have come in a second. You know, I mean, he would have come... Young men are under a lot of pressure...
SB: But, if you will allow me... I believe the trouble lies with the family
PDA: What trouble?
SB: Having an orgasm
PDA: Do you know how long it's been since I last had sex like I had with you tonight? Many months, not since I left my man... Is that normal?
SB: Can I say something? You should have sex with yourself... You should touch yourself often

The following conversation between Patrizia D'Addario and Gianpaolo Tarantini discusses a forthcoming evening at Berlusconi's Roman residence, Palazzo Grazioli in October 2008.

GT: So...
PDA: Did you want to talk to me?
GT: I didn't want to talk, I wanted to tell you... that at 21:15 I'll send you the driver and we'll go there...
Girl: We'll go there... then if he decides to stay there...
PDA: ...a thousand for the night.
GT: I've already given you a thousand... then if you stay with him... he'll give you a present... ah... so you know, he doesn't use condoms... eh
PDA: But it's not possible that he doesn't use condoms... how can I trust him?
GT: Well... it's Berlusconi...
PDA: And who are you? Look... You know how many people are left...
GT: Do you know how many tests he has done?
PDA: I know, but... you know... for us women it's also nicer... I mean... hearing something like this...
GT: You can decide, but he won't take you as an escort, understand? He'll take you as a friend of mine that I've brought along...

The following took place between Berlusconi and Patrizia on the morning of 5th November 2008 over breakfast in Palazzo Grazioli.

PDA: What pain, at the start you gave me such terrible pain
SB: Oh come on! That's not true!
PDA: I swear, a terrible pain at the start
SB: Will you tell me your surname?
PDA: Yes, it's a famous surname. There's a big advertising agency and a big gynecologist with it
SB: (Reads a card) D'Addario?
PDA: Yes, it's not that common....
SB: D'Addario...

Homegrown Imams in Switzerland - An effective obstacle to Wahhabism and Salafism

Swiss Muslims, the authorities, universities and legal experts have agreed that in the future, imams and Islamic religious teachers in Switzerland will have to be educated in a Swiss university. Researchers at the University of Zurich conducted a survey on 100 representatives of the Muslim community and 40 representatives of other religions, political parties and authorities, which asked various questions about the current state of Islam in Switzerland. The results were presented in a report in Bern entitled, "Religious Communities, State and Society", by the Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research, and will form the basis for legislative proposals to the Swiss Federal Council.

In the future imams will be required to have a good knowledge of at least one of the national languages, of the Swiss legal and political system, and the ability to enter into dialogue with other religious leaders. With 350,000 members, or 5% of the Swiss population, Muslims constitute the third largest religious group after Catholics and Protestants. Currently, all imams, who act as moral and spiritual guides for the community and mediators with the authorities and media, are educated abroad. The study confirmed that Swiss Muslims found this to be unsatisfactory. Linguistic problems are believed to prevent the imams from correctly undertaking their work within the community and also impede their religious teaching and contact with the Swiss Muslim youth. The Muslims surveyed also said they wanted imams that better understood the Swiss socio-cultural context in order to bridge the Islamic community with Swiss society. The institutional actors that were consulted expect imams to retransmit Swiss values and norms to their congregation.

Imams will need to acquire an understanding of Swiss history, law, politics and economics. It is also expected that they will need to complete a course in religious science and interreligious dialogue. Both Swiss Muslims and the institutions agreed that the form of Islam to be followed should be one based on the Swiss context, rather than one imported from abroad, whilst Islamic associations believe the state should not try to educate imams according to its own wishes. These measures constitute the most effective opposition to the spread of Saudi Arabian Wahhabism and Salafism, a form of Islam which rejects capitalism, constitutions, economics and political parties, and should be implemented by all Western societies to safeguard democracy.

Ten more questions for Silvio Berlusconi

1. When did you first meet Noemi Letizia? How many times did you meet her and where? Have you frequented other minors and do you still do so?

2. What is the reason that forced you to not tell the truth for two months, instead giving four different versions of your acquaintance with Noemi before making two belated admissions?

3. Do you not find it a serious matter for Italian democracy and for your leadership that you paid the girls that call you "papi" (daddy) with candidatures and promises of political responsibilities?

4. You stayed with a prostitute the night of 4 November 2008, and, according to judicial investigations, dozens of call girls have been taken to your residences. Were you aware that they were prostitutes? If not, are you able to guarantee that those encounters have not made you vulnerable to blackmail?

5. Have any "official government flights" without you on board ever been used to take female party guests to your residences?

6. Can you say without fear of contradiction that the people with whom you keep company have not caused prejudice to the affairs of the Italian State? Can you reassure the country and its allies that no female guests of yours possess arms of blackmail that diminish your political independence?

7. Your conduct contradicts your policies: would you be able today to attend a Family Day demonstration or sign a law punishing the clients of prostitutes?

8. Do you still consider yourself eligible for the office of President of the Republic? If not, do you think that a person that common opinion considers unfit for the Quirinal presidential palace can fulfil his duties as prime minister?

9. You have spoken of a "subversive plan" that threatens you. Can you guarantee not having used and not wanting to use intelligence and the police force against witnesses, magistrates and journalists?

10. In light of what has emerged in the last two months, what is the state of your health?

Why Tony Blair should never be President of the European Council

If the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by Ireland, the current system of six-month rotating presidencies will be replaced by a president that can be elected for a maximum of two terms of two and a half years. The former French president, Valérie Giscard d'Estaing, believes that the president of the European Council should be chosen from a member state that fully participates in and respects the commitments of the European Union. It is also hoped that the figure will be someone that can strengthen the diplomatic and military independence of Europe. During his ten years as British prime minister, Blair did nothing to abolish the country's various opt-outs, nor did he pursue British membership of the euro or the Schengen Area. It is also widely suspected that Blair would exploit the post to publicise himself, rather than the EU. Furthermore, his servile compliance with America throughout his mandate casts doubt on his capacity to enhance European diplomatic and military independence. The former French prime minister, Édouard Balladur, asks,

"If the presidents of the United States and of Europe were called upon to hold regular meetings to discuss questions of mutual interest, how could an EU president from a country that intends to keep its monetary independence negotiate the co-ordination that is indispensable between the euro and the American dollar? It is difficult to see how Mr Blair could qualify as a spokesman for Europe in these circumstances."

The president will be appointed by the European heads of state or government and the largely undefined nature of the post will allow the first incumbent to determine its future character. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, has already stated his concern over electing Blair, believing that he will cause friction between the smaller and larger member states. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish prime minister, and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, are also opposed. With Sweden and Spain holding the rotating presidency of the EU for the next year, these governments could complicate Blair's bid with their agenda-setting powers. Nicolas Sarkozy originally supported Blair, but now it is believed that he favours the former Spanish prime minister, Felipe González. Other potential challengers for the role include Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg's prime minister; Wolfgang Schussel, Austria's former chancellor; Bertie Ahern, former prime minister of Ireland; and Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister.

Glenys Kinnock's announcement that "the UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for President of the Council", made in Strasbourg yesterday, clearly shows that he has the support of his old rival, Gordon Brown. Many in Westminster accept that this support was secured in a deal that Brown and Blair made months ago which ensured that Blair would use Lord Mandelson to quell the growing rebellion in the Parliamentary Labour Party against Brown's leadership.

More important, however, is Blair's obsession with money and how readily he will succumb to its attraction. Blair was recently awarded a $1million prize by the Dan David Foundation of Tel Aviv for "his exceptional leadership and steadfast determination in helping to engineer agreements and forge lasting solutions to areas in conflict." There's also the £2million annual fee from JP Morgan Chase and the $250,000 for a 45-minute speech on the US lecture circuit. These prestigious rewards evidently demonstrate to members of the European political elite the potential financial benefits that they are likely to enjoy if they subserviently act in America's interests. Tony Blair is unmistakably unfit for this position - not to mention that some believe he should be on trial for war crimes.

The War in Afghanistan: Obama's policy towards Pakistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, US President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, 6 May 09

The Obama administration's policy towards Pakistan, as outlined in this white paper, focuses on the need to improve cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the ability of Pakistan to fight extremists and how to strengthen the Pakistani government through increased American support. Whilst the administration's objectives for Afghanistan appear more detailed, achieving its goals for Pakistan will be far more arduous. Before the 2008 US presidential elections, Obama's staff asserted that it would be necessary to stabilise Pakistan before its neighbour could be stabilised. This however, would have required the assistance of India in diplomatically reassuring Pakistan, which remains concerned at New Delhi's encroachment into what it regards as its sphere of influence, namely over countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and the central Asian republics. As can be expected, Pakistani security concerns are linked to its poor relationship with India and its neighbour's potential to disaggregate the state, as it did following the conflict fought in 1971 as a result of the genocide in East Pakistan that ultimately led to the territory declaring independence.

President Obama appointed Richard Holbrooke as special envoy to the region which was to include India. However, following the pressure from influential Indian lobby groups, his mandate covered only Afghanistan and Pakistan. India was keen to avoid any presumption that its policy towards Kashmir and Pakistan could have anything to do with Islamabad's behaviour in the region. Nevertheless, the Indian government assured the US that it would not tolerate the involvement of Pakistan in the security issues of Afghanistan. Therefore, as India's status as a regional power continually grows, Pakistan has felt compelled to address the balance of power through the only instrument at its disposal; the military. The US has so far been incapable of dissuading Pakistan from considering its military as a tool for foreign policy. Pakistan has been reluctant to adopt adequately restrictive measures against its military option and cannot fight effectively against militants that have decidedly sided against the state. Pakistan is now also convinced that its nuclear arsenal would allow it to engage in unconventional warfare.

The US' options for Pakistan are limited. Congress has sought to introduce various legislative modifications to enhance American assistance to Islamabad in the area of security or attempt to increase funds to strengthen the debilitated civil and political institutions of the country. Current laws are deemed restrictive as they bind American security assistance to the Pakistani president's guarantee that Pakistan does not support terrorism and that it does not harbour anyone that has dealt with the nuclear black market. The Obama administration fears that these conditions could push Pakistan to seek new allies and thereby deny Washington the strategic opportunity to monitor and determine Pakistan's behaviour and political choices. The US is still in great need of Pakistan's logistical support in Afghanistan, because, even though they admit that the Northern Route into the country can no longer be used and that Iran's border provides the best entry routes into Afghanistan, any formal involvement of Iran in the conflict remains impossible.

In summary, Washington and the international community do not know what course of action to take with Pakistan. Until a real solution is found, Pakistan will continue to represent one of the greatest threats to the region and the wider international community.

Xinjiang: The Muslim Tibet

Although China was taken by surprise this week by the sudden outbreak of civil unrest in the vast region of Xinjiang, which is inhabited by the Turkic Uyghurs, the government reacted more quickly than it did following the March 2008 protests in Tibet. Images of the violence in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, transmitted by the state's broadcaster are careful to show only the Han Chinese that have been injured during the ethnic clashes. Evidently therefore, Beijing hopes to accelerate the nationalist movement of the Han against the Uyghurs. Xinjiang, like Tibet, has been subject to massive waves of Han immigration that have drastically altered the ethnic composition of the territory.

The Uyghur issue has never enjoyed the same visibility in the West as Tibet. The inhabitants of Xinjiang have failed to gain the same sympathies in Europe and the US as the Tibetan Buddhists because of their Islamic faith. Yet this Turkic population suffers from the Han domination as a form of colonial occupation. Pro-independence organisations refer to the region as 'East Turkestan', and are strongly supported by neighbouring populations in the former Soviet republics of central Asia. For Hu Jintao, the Uyghur issue will present obstacles to forming relations with the Islamic world, where China is hoping to expand its economic and strategic influence. Such ethnic issues also highlight China's imbalance between its economic development and the rigidity of its authoritarian system.

An Uyghur girl in Turpan, Xinjiang