Finally Clark, "who did not want the monastery bombed", pinned down the Commander-in-Chief Allied Armies in Italy, General Sir Harold Alexander, to take the responsibility: "I said, 'You give me a direct order and we'll do it,' and he did."
Til sidst valgte Clark, "som ikke ønskede klosteret bombet," at tvinge den øverstkommanderende for de allierede hære i Italien, general Sir Harold Alexander til at tage ansvaret: "Jeg sagde: 'Hvis De giver mig en direkte ordre, vil jeg gøre det', og det gjorde han."