ROME, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Ambassador to Italy Ronald Spogli, in cables released Friday, described Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as a national embarrassment.
Spogli, who was envoy from 2005 to 2009, called the premier ''something of a clown'' who has ''damaged the image of the country in Europe and given a comic tone to Italy's reputation'' in cables disclosed by WikiLeaks and published by the Italian weekly L'Espresso.