Propose going after the Italian chaps? That's pathetic (10)
I believe the answer is:
lamentable
'pathetic' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'propose going after the italian chaps?' is the wordplay.
'propose' becomes 'table' (as in tabling a motion).
'going after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the italian' becomes 'la' ('the' in Italian).
'chaps?' becomes 'men' (chap means a man).
'la'+'men'='lamen'
'table' put after 'lamen' is 'LAMENTABLE'.
'that's' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for lamentable that I've seen before include "Awful" , "Deplorable, regrettable" , "Pitiful" , "Sorry" .)