Assess the role of Benito Mussolini in Italy's involment in World War II.

I think that Mussolini's role in Italian involvement in
World War II is critical.  In the end, it is Musolini who forges the alliance with
Hitler to form the basis of the Axis powers.  It is Mussolini who covets Italian
conquest as much as Hitler holds designs on world domination.  It was Mussolini who was
responsible for aggression in the takeover of Abyssinia in 1936, and through this
committed to the war effort in 1940.  It is Mussolini who so strongly identified himself
with the nation that it became a reflection of him.  Therefore, when it went into war,
it only did so with his consent.  His desire for power and conquest plunged Italy into a
war that outmatched their capacity.  The worldwide nature of it was far more than what
Italy could muster.  Certainly, Mussolini was more of a localized threat than Hitler and
few would argue that he was overall as malevolent as Hitler.  However, it is difficult
to minimize his role and influence over Italian participation in the Second World War. 
Since it is highly unlikely that if Mussolini had made the correct call and the Axis
powers won the conflict he would have defrayed credit for the positive results, he needs
to be assessed as having a large role in Italian participation and the disaster it
represented for the people of Italy.