"What do the Italians think of us?"

For obvious reasons, in the battlefields of Afghanistan we hear much about Canada and the United States. However, other countries are involved in the mission, including Italy.

Excerpts from an article of a reporter embedded with Italian troops:

[...]They all asked me the same question: "What do the Italians think of us?". The soldiers are afraid people think they are only serving in Afghanistan for the money.

But while financial compensation can be one reason for going there, it is not the only reason: people go because they are passionate about what they do and because they love their job [...]

[...]The Italian mission in Afghanistan is committed to restoring security in a turbulent country where dangers exist in every corner - under a suspect pile of stones, in a white Toyota car, in a motorbike that has apparently been abandoned by the roadside and even in a drainage ditch [..]

[...]The Italian military's objective is always to help create a secure and stable environment to legitimize the Afghan government and build a better life for the Afghan people.