Italy's Government divided over Libya Intervention...

Remember they tried to take Berlusconi down in December 2010? Me thinks it was because of whats happening now. There was an attempt to oust Berlusconi, he survived.

Violence erupts in Rome after Berlusconi survives confidence votes

December 14th 2010

Angry protesters threw rocks and bottles and police lobbed tear gas canisters Tuesday in Rome's streets after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi narrowly survived lawmakers' confidence votes.

A crowd of several hundred protesters smashed motorcycles and police vehicles as they erupted in violence and clashed with authorities following the votes.

[link to articles.cnn.com]

If those votes had went against Italy's current government, this vote today would have went the other way

Italy's parliament approves military intervention plan in Libya

ROME, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Italy's parliament approved on Thursday a government resolution involving the country's participation in the military operations in Libya.

The intervention plan was approved by the Chamber of Deputies with 300 "yes" votes against 293 "no" votes and 2 abstentions.

[link to news.xinhuanet.com]

That got through by 7 votes. If Italy had of voted no to this, and without Berlusconi the vote would have been no, then all NATO and American bases could not operate from Italian soil