The Sons of Italy enjoyed a great coup when at their Black Tie Gala attended by close to 1,000, for the first time in history, a sitting president and a sitting prime minister of Italy attended an Italian-American event together.

The ties between Italy and the US, go FAR beyond WWII as Benedetto suggests, and are Strong and Long.

To hit merely the high points, the obvious discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, the naming of America after Amerigo Vespucci, the discovery of New York Bay by Giovanni Verrazzano; the impressive number and contributions of  "The Italians in America before the Revolution" (Schiavo); "America's Italian Founding Fathers" [Mazzei and Beccaria, who were the "mentors" of Adams and Jefferson] (Caso).

The Two Sicilies/Italy were the only ally of the US in the Barbery Pirates War. Italy was an  ally of the US/England/France in WWI. "Four Centuries of Italian American History"
(Schiavo) that chronicles the significant, but largely unheralded contributions of those of Italian ancestry to the US, despite harsh discrimination and defamation.

But it was the substantial number of immigrants from Italy to the US in 1840-60 and 1880-1922, who more than any other group, kept close ties to their kinsman in the "old country", that was most responsible for the unusually close Italy -US bond.

Then in WWII, the undying gratitude of Italy to the US for its "liberation" from the Germans.

Those "ties" may however "blind" some to the "mistaken justifications", of the Iraq war, and the "questionable motives" that sorely test the resolve of both a "patriot" and a "friend".
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TIES THAT BIND US, ITALY GO BACK TO ANOTHER WAR

USA Today
Richard Benedetto
May 21, 2004

WASHINGTON — One of those little-publicized, but nonetheless important events played out in the capital Wednesday when the president and Italy's prime minister showed up at a dinner by the Order of the Sons of Italy in America.

The black-tie audience of 950 Italian Americans from around the nation came to the downtown hotel to raise money for charity. The audience gave George W. Bush and Silvio Berlusconi a thunderous standing ovation when the two friends were introduced.

It marked the first time that a sitting president and a sitting prime minister of Italy attended an Italian-American event together. And the significance of the moment was not lost on the crowd, which had to be urged by Bush to sit down, so prolonged was its cheering....

Berlusconi, who like Bush, faces dwindling public support for the war at home, told his American audience that he will stand shoulder to shoulder with Bush no matter how loud the critics become.

Berlusconi's explanation for his unshakable will was simple — it's a matter of honor. He said Italians owe a great debt of gratitude to the many young Americans who shed their blood in World War II so the Italian people could be free. He talked of being dramatically reminded of that sacrifice every time he visits an American military cemetery in Italy.

"Without the help of your great country, our destiny would have been much different," Berlusconi said. "When I see your flag, the Stars and Stripes, I don't see only the flag of a democracy, of a great country. I see, first and foremost, a symbol, a universal message of democracy and freedom."

Many in the crowd were moved to tears.

Berlusconi's continued support for Bush comes at great political risk for him at home. His approval ratings are down to 30% and his critics are calling for a pullout of the 3,000 Italian troops in Iraq. They have even called him Bush's "lap dog" for his unswerving loyalty...

Next month, Bush will travel to Rome to again stand side by side with Berlusconi in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Allies' liberation of that great city. It may not help Berlusconi politically, but it will be a sharp reminder to the Italian people that while staying the course requires sacrifice, it can have great rewards.

USATODAY.com - Ties that bind U.S., Italy go back to another war
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/
columnist/benedetto/2004-05-21-benedetto_x.htm