This has to due with Italy using Libya as it's holding center for illegals from the African continent. What the Italians actually are doing is paying for Lybia's co-operation in repatriating illegals.   A 5 Billion one time payment is peanuts. Consider that we guarantee Israel a minimum of 3.5 Billion per year and usually actuall give them double or triple that. Congress just passed a 50 Billion global AIDS relief too.  Also, as well can see from the article it is not a blank check. Much of the 5 Billion is already aermarked for Italian approved projects to benefit Italian trade with all of North Africa. Including a massive multi-national highway linking Libya, Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia.  Also, Ghadafi pledged to stem the tide of illegals to Italy. We be cheaper to round them up, confiscate anything of value they have, put them on a barge and throw them overboard into the Mediterranean 5 miles from the Italian shore.