Reading the news, I've noticed many odd ties between Berlusconi and Gaddafi. They seem to have a complicated relationship and some unsettling similarities. They both make efforts to portray a stylish, fashionable image, they both like to surround themselves by women, they both have a lot of money, and neither has a great commitment to democratic values, although Berlusconi is nowhere near as ruthless of a dictator as Gaddafi is continuously proving to be. Berlusconi may not have been the first to condemn Gaddafi's violent reaction to protests in Libya but he has taken strong measures reflecting his rejection of his former friend. Like the ties between the two leaders, the ties between their countries go way back, since Italy's occupation of Libya in 1911. In 2008, Italy and Libya made a treaty in which Berlusconi agreed to pay Libya $5 billion over 20 years as compensation for Italy's colonial rule as well as promised not to allow bases in Italy to be used to attack Libya in return for favorable privileges for Italian companies in Libya's energy, infrastructure and defense industries. Now the longest underwater Mediterranean pipeline pumps oil from the coast of Libya to Sicily, Libya's largest bank is headquartered in Rome, and Italy is the top arms supplier and trading partner for Libya. The tight relationship between the two countries was infamously displayed by Berlusconi's action of kissing Gaddafi's hand at an Arab League summit a year ago -
A week ago, Berlusconi announced that the "Treaty of Friendship" with Libya was effectively suspended. Does this mean their relationship is over for good? Will Italy stop supplying arms to Gaddafi to use against his own people and open its bases for a possible international intervention? I hope so.

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