U.S., Britain slam Italy hostage deal with Taliban (Reuters)

[Eugene]

U.S., Britain slam Italy hostage deal with Taliban

By Phil Stewart

Wed Mar 21, 5:01 PM ET

ROME (Reuters) - The United States and Britain criticized Italy's hostage
deal with the Taliban on Wednesday, saying the release of five guerrillas
in exchange for an Italian reporter put NATO troops in danger and
encouraged kidnappings.

A senior U.S. administration official said Washington had formally complained
to Rome through diplomatic channels for putting pressure on Kabul to release
the Taliban, adding the deal "caught the U.S. by surprise."

A spokeswoman at the British Foreign Office said the deal sent "the wrong
signal to prospective hostage-takers."

Italy, which has 1,900 troops under NATO command in Afghanistan,
confirmed on Wednesday that five Taliban had been released and said
this was in exchange for the freeing on Monday of reporter Daniele
Mastrogiacomo, held for two weeks by the Taliban.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070321/ts_nm/italy_usa_afghanistan_dc_2

[jaksavage]

1. they didn't like it twice

the first one they tried to murder

[TheBaldyMan]

2. but they did manage to kill her Italian intelligence bodyguard

so at least Rummy managed a hard on that night.

[jaksavage]

3. sick bunch

I am ashamed they are leaders of a nation
especially my nation