Its partisans, however, have begun using these incidents to shore up support for the agenda of social democracy and higher taxes.

But given the financial fiasco in the EU in the past two years, EU partisans now seem to be significantly overrating the appeal of membership to prospective candidate nations.

All have the personal backing and prestige of Silvio Berlusconi attached to them, so their combined rejection is a serious political setback for the prime minister.

Out is the phrase "war on terror", instead the strategy refers explicitly to combating al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

Within a few months I had extended the lethal force authorization by expanding the list of targeted bin Laden associates and the circumstances under which they could be attacked.