By Tom Rachman
ASSOCIATED PRESS
9:41 a.m. April 10, 2004
ROME – Premier Silvio Berlusconi paid a surprise visit Saturday to his troops at an Italian military base in southern Iraq, putting his arms around the shoulders of young soldiers, telling jokes, and joining the troops in a cafeteria lunch on Easter eve. The premier's first visit to the Italian base at Nasiriyah was conducted in secrecy and under tight security, with even the troops unprepared for his morning arrival. Some 2,900 Italian armed forces are based in Nasiriyah, working on reconstruction in the southern Iraqi city.
"I am here to thank you because you represent a part of Italy and because your actions are in support of peace, for the fight against terrorism, and in defense of democracy," Berlusconi told the soldiers and other Italian officials. "All this is thanks to you. Thank you for everything, including the phone call of congratulations that I received yesterday from President Bush," Berlusconi said. "I bring you the embrace of the Italians."
Dressed casually and wearing a beige baseball cap, the Italian leader kidded around with the troops – "even telling some jokes related to soccer," the Nasiriyah press office said.
The premier inspected the troops' lunchtime fare, dipping a ladle into a metal container of food, lifting it to his nose and sniffing. Soldiers pulled out digital cameras for photos with the premier, who slung his arms around them and grinned. That afternoon, Berlusconi boarded a C-130J military transport plane and returned to Italy.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20040410-0941-iraq-berlusconi.htmlNow this is what a President does. I do not agree with Berlusconi's politics, but he does seem to know how a President should act in time of battle. 
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