...humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history," he complained to his son-in-law. "To make a people great it is necessary to send them...battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do." Still, Mussolini restrained himself: he declared war on France and Britain...

...keep them disciplined and in uniform from morning until night. Beat them and beat them and beat them. To make a people great it is necessary to send them...battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. This is what I shall do. Welles then turned his attention to Ciano as a man, and provided this biographical...