Quote Originally Posted by davidbfpo View Post
Makes one wonder if the Italians recalled this history and tried to keep out of the coalition.
Absolutely David. The signing of the Bengasi (history is always joking!) agreement between Italy and Libya in 2008 has been followed by some kind of a flow of historical pubblications in MSM to back the rationale of that agreement. Actually the most cruel actions were not those of the 1911 war but those carried out in the "small war" at the end of the 20's till the mid 30's in a sort of pacificaton. That pacification operation involved the use of gas bombs and shells too.

The real problem is that the pacification in the 30's regarded the Cirenaica where this rebellion is taking place. This is ons of the biggest problem between Italy and this new leadership.

Italy was not in the political position to take any kind of leadership position in a coalition that seemed to have the use of force as is main instrument.