Berlusconi Returns to Power in Italy

It appears that Silvio Berlusconi will become Italy's Prime Minister for the third time. Berlusconi served in that position from 1994-1995 and again from 2001-2006. One wonders if his third term will be more like his first than his second term. Last time around, he was in office nearly five years which is almost unheard of in Italian politics. Less than two years ago, Berlusconi was defeated by Romano Prodi. But the Prodi government collapsed in January. Italians have gone to the polls more than 60 times since the end of WWII. Berlusconi's election is certainly good where it concerns the U.S. Berlusconi supported our efforts both in Afghanistan and Iraq and having another friendly government aboard in the war against Islamic terror is welcome. But again how long he will last is anybody's guess.