"This Western thing about sympathy for the Other may well be what destroys the West."
this
The one and only reason why Italy should be patrolling the Libyan side of the Mediterranean. To prevent having to fish people (and corpses) out of the middle and Italian side of the Mediterranean. That is being humanitarian, you stop people from a dangerous and stupid crossing. No, you don't take them to Italy, you bring them right back to Libya. People will stop trying, if they keep getting shut down. By taking them to Italy, more people will try, and be even more unprepared to be at sea. Most will figure, I just have to get offshore, the Italian navy will provide the ride. They actually make it more dangerous, as they have no ability to stop everyone.