Quote:
The White House has apologised to Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi for a briefing describing him as a political "amateur" who is "hated by many".
The "insulting" biography was included in a press kit distributed to reporters travelling with President George W Bush to a meeting of world leaders in Japan.
He was "one of the most controversial leaders" of a country "known for governmental corruption and vice".
It refers to the Italian prime minister as a man "hated by many but respected by all at least for his bella figura (personal style) and the sheer force of his will".
It says Mr Berlusconi was said to be "regarded by many as a political dilettante (amateur) who gained his high office only through use of his considerable influence on the national media".
Acknowledging the error, White House spokesman Tony Fratto issued an apology.
The "insulting" biography was included in a press kit distributed to reporters travelling with President George W Bush to a meeting of world leaders in Japan.
He was "one of the most controversial leaders" of a country "known for governmental corruption and vice".
It refers to the Italian prime minister as a man "hated by many but respected by all at least for his bella figura (personal style) and the sheer force of his will".
It says Mr Berlusconi was said to be "regarded by many as a political dilettante (amateur) who gained his high office only through use of his considerable influence on the national media".
Acknowledging the error, White House spokesman Tony Fratto issued an apology.
What error? Berlusconi is arguably the worst Prime Minister in Europe. He spent his first 5 years in office creating laws that would prevent him from being prosecuted for fraud and bribery, and is spending this term demonising and attacking immigrants. He's also famous for having neo-fascists in his cabinet, and employing supermodels as Ministers.
All in all, he's a massive ****. Here are a few quotes from the man himself:
Read The Black Book of Communism and you will discover that in the China of Mao, they did not eat children, but had them boiled to fertilise the fields
I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone
I know that in Italy there is a man producing a film on **** concentration camps - I shall put you forward for the role of Kapo (guard chosen from among the prisoners) - you would be perfect to a German member of the European Parliament.
Italy is now a great country to invest in... today we have fewer communists and those who are still there deny having been one. Another reason to invest in Italy is that we have beautiful secretaries... superb girls
Mussolini never killed anyone. Mussolini used to send people on vacation in internal exile
The West will continue to conquer peoples, even if it means a confrontation with another civilisation, Islam, firmly entrenched where it was 1,400 years ago
A few more can be found here.