Afghans Dealt For Italian Journalist
Yet another Italian journalist has his freedom thanks to deal-cutting with terrorists. Hamid Karzai's government released five captured Taliban fighters in order to free Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who had been kidnapped two weeks earlier and watched his driver get decapitated:
The Afghan government admitted yesterday it had struck a deal with Taliban kidnappers to secure the freedom of an Italian hostage. An Italian aid agency said Daniele Mastrogiacomo, a journalist with La Repubblica newspaper, was freed only after five Taliban militants had been released from prison.President Hamid Karzai's spokesmen admitted a deal had been made but refused to elaborate. ...
Gina Strada head of the Italian non-governmental organisation Emergency, which runs a hospital in Lashkar Gah, told La Stampa that President Karzai had authorised the release despite protests in his own government.
"The Afghan government was not a big help," she said. "[The Italian ambassador] spent hours and hours fighting with ministers and Afghan officials who refused to carry out Karzai's orders."
Karim Rahimi, an Afghan government spokesman, admitted "some demands" had been met but refused to specify how many prisoners had been freed. "This was an exceptional case and it will never happen again," he said.
It will never happen again. Yes, I'm certain that the Taliban believes that to be the case. Why, at this very moment, their leadership probably has met to discuss how further abductions will not end in the same result.
The next time, they'll demand ten prisoners, and they'll probably get them.
Incentives increase the level of activity that creates them. That is a human reality that stretches through every culture, regardless of race, creed, or language. If the Aghan government rewards abductions, the Taliban will start cranking them out faster and faster. They have had a large number of their fighters captured, and they will use whatever means they can to get them released and back on the front lines -- and abductions are relatively easy missions to execute.
Hamid Karzai said he made the deal to preserve the "friendship" of the Italians. It sounds as if Karzai had two extortionists involved in this deal. Italy has 1800 soldiers in Afghanistan, and the implication appears to be that Italy would have exited without Karzai making the deal. If so, it shows that Berlusconi isn't the only Italian premiere to lack the fortitude to stand up to terrorist demands for deals.
Posted by Ed Morrissey on March 21, 2007 6:04 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)
Comments (5)
Posted by stackja1945![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 21, 2007 6:38 AM
Italians have lacked leadership since they believed old Musso. Kazi is still learning. The Brits held them at the pass then went home. Not inspiring examples for Kazi.
Posted by rbj![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 21, 2007 8:00 AM
Ya know, I appreciate the Italians being in Afghanistan to help, but this case plus the Iraq payoff to terrorists to free a journalist and the "indicting" CIA agents tells me that their heart isn't into it.
The Italians weren't even good fighters in WWII -- they got bogged down by Ethiopians using 19th Cent. arms. Last time they were good fighters was probably a couple millenia ago. Great art and cuisine though.
Posted by Lew![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 21, 2007 8:22 AM
Unfortunately, the last time Italians had anything worth fighting for was back in the 19th century when they were trying to liberate themselves from a bunch of other Europeans and stitch together a country of their own, free from the Vatican. Since that time, the highest aspiration of most Italian men has been to live long, eat well and die in bed, preferably with his neighbor's wife.
As far as Karzai is concerned, to say that he's stupid is to put him in too much good company. Before too much time passes, he will be drenched in the blood of all those kidnap victims and victims of released terrorists that wouldn't have happened if he had just had a little more courage. But its always been like that; want of little courage today inevitably brings on the need for a great deal of courage tomorrow.
Posted by TomB![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 21, 2007 10:11 AM
Maybe I am not sensitive enough, but as long as it is just Italian journalists, I don't care.
Posted by Carol_Herman![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 21, 2007 12:59 PM
Most places on this globe are worse than Roach Motels.
Afghanistan is the supplier of poppy. Opium. And, Heroin. And, it's been in this business for more than a thousand years.
Probably, the biggest failures belong to the UN, which also derives lots of money for sending "squirrels" or soldiers, to places like this.
What we don't do is retaliate.
At no time is there anything going on BUT the people themselves, choosing the crap that leads them. With the arabs and their money, not far behind.
What would be the best solution?
One plane. one bomb. And, cancelling out the revenue by snuffing the lights out of places like this.
Will we? Should we?
So far all we have is a "sytsem" that costs more money than its worth.
But the obvious? You'll never get leadership in hell holes like these.
And, you take what you can get, if you don't mind meeting the current prices.
Just don't expect miracles.
Don't expect to be proud.