Where Is My Mind?

Last week Daniele Mastrogiacomo, an Italian reporter for one of his nation’s newspapers, La Republica, was traded for five Taliban prisoners Italy recently admitted, according to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Despite the exchange’s success, this should not count as a win for Italy or its allies. The Times reported that this seems to be the first open hostage swap in a war involving the United States.
If there’s one thing that the Bush Administration has done well -and this may be that one thing-, it is adhere to the “never negotiate with terrorists rule.” In the Times article, Sean McCormack of the State Department, said the United States does not “negotiate with terrorists, and we don’t advise others to do so either.” Well there really wasn’t much the United States could do; the five Taliban prisoners were held by the Afghani government, not NATO forces, but it’s likely that this time the Bush Administration is telling the truth, for once.
Admittedly, in the past few years, Italy has taken a few hits from its involvement in W’s War Against Terror (or as he puts it, “War on Tehrrr”). Most recognizably, there was Italy’s involvement in the Middle East conflicts –2,000 Italian soldiers were sent to Afghanistan. There have also been numerous attacks by terrorist organizations, like ETA, on Italian soil. Clearly a bold stance must be made. But Italy’s surrender to terrorist demands comes as a surprise. By openly giving in to demands aren’t they encouraging more fighting, more hostage taking, more terror? It would seem so.
Not only does this damage Italy’s political clout, it also discourages worldwide news organizations from sending reporters to the Middle East. Besides the newswires, there are only three U.S. publications in Iraq: The New York Times, USA Today (sometimes), and The Los Angeles Times (which may change due to internal reasons). To any news group toying with the idea of reporting what’s really going on over there rather than what Bush’s Administration says, the decision seems a little bit clearer: send no one. Now, if you want Italy or a member in the Coalition of the Willing (although these days they seem more Unwilling) to do something, grab yourself a journalist!
The Italian government has repeatedly stated that any means necessary to save a life is justified in this war. Yes, one life was saved through this dealing but now how many more will die in an attempt to repeat this outcome?
Washington and London have been saying this but this is no time to point fingers. After all, who was it who started the war in Afghanistan? And who was the biggest supporter of those upstarts?
When President Bush marched onto an aircraft carrier, flight suit and all, declaring the “mission accomplished,” it was pretty doubtful that all major military operations in Iraq had ended but that major conflicts in Afghanistan had stopped seemed plausible. Unfortunately the tumult continues in Iraq and Afghanistan -which America has left to the clean-up crew. This is just another example of how that disaster needs more attention before the problems are gone and the mission is anywhere near accomplished.
Thankfully, Mastrogiacomo returned home safely but besides that nothing about this deserves an aircraft carrier stunt.