ITALIAN BRIBES?

British newspapers are reporting that the Italian government bribed the Taliban to prevent attacks on their troops.

From the Times of London:

The payment of protection money was revealed after the death of ten French soldiers in August 2008 at the hands of large Taleban force in Sarobi. French forces had taken over the district from Italian troops, but were unaware of secret Italian payments to local commanders to stop attacks on their forces and consequently misjudged local threat levels.

Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa has said he will tell his cabinet chief to assign lawyers to take legal action against The Times, according to ABC News.