How To Lose The War On Terror

The Italian government traded five imprisoned Taliban members for one journalist. Now the Taliban is celebrating their victory. Four pertinent links below.

You can't win the war on terror by negotiating with terrorists. Italy has 2,000 troops in Afghanistan and the government's communist faction is increasing pressure for a withdrawal. The US and others have criticized the hostage negotiation.

Previously at the Counterterrorism Blog.

When the Italian government this week completed a deal in Afghanistan to obtain the release of an Italian journalist hostage, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, for five Taliban prisoners, the spokesman for Italian Prime Minister Roman Prodi was quoted as saying it was a simple issue of saving a life.

Taliban Sees Hostage Deal as Victory

Following the release of an Italian journalist held hostage in exchange for five Taliban fighters, the Islamic extremists' propaganda machine has gone into full gear. The Taliban's Mullah Dadullah is using his success to ratchet up pressure on Hamid Karzai's government, while Western officials fear journalists are now fair game.

It didn't take long for Mullah Dadullah, the bloodthirsty Taliban commander, to get the propaganda machine spinning in full gear. After all, he had a Taliban victory on his hands. The hostage drama involving Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo had hardly come to an end when he picked up his satellite phone and called renowned Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai. During the conversation, the notorious commander was quick to depict Monday's hostage exchange as a victory for the Taliban, Yusufzai told SPIEGEL ONLINE, describing the call.

The US and others have criticized the deal, but does that matter as long as weak kneed European governments want to pursue appeasement, despite repeated attacks?

WASHINGTON: The United States renewed criticism Thursday of Italian negotiations that led to the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist in Afghanistan and said it does not expect such deals to be made in the future.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke with Italy's Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema Thursday after criticism by the U.S. and some European countries of the hostage swap that lead to the release of five Taliban militants.

The Italians are staying in Afghanistan for now but are concerned about troop security. Funny, I always thought that was something said troops were supposed to provide.

Italy has about 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, deployed between Kabul and Herat, far from the more restive south of the country. But a series of small incidents involving the Italians and reports of heavy fighting elsewhere in the country are heightening concerns in Italy over the security of the troops.

Addressing those concerns, the government has asked military chiefs to assess the security conditions on the ground and indicate whether the troops need heavier armaments to ensure their safety, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema told senators before the vote.

Communists and other hardline leftists in the coalition are opposed to the mission and want a troops withdrawal. But Prodi has resisted those calls, as well as NATO demands to beef up the contingent.

Comments

[Aaron Kinney]

So you dont win the war on terror by trading hostages, because the terrorists will celebrate the trade as a victory every time.

Additionally, you dont win the war on terror by blowing up terrorists, because for every terrorist you blow up, 2 more spawn. Remember good old Cheney talking about the "last throes"...?

So how do you win the war on terror? You cant bargain with them, and you cant blow them all away without committing 100% total and complete genocide on the entire continent. Is there something Im missing here?

[Zifnab]

There's a diplomatic solution, but apparently that's for pussies. Then there's "winning hearts and minds", which is apparently accomplished by no-bidding schools out to shitty contractors and instigating civil war with ham-handed, partisan party loyalists delegated as foreign aids.

Remember Kosavo? If only we had real leadership now like hwe had then. *sigh*

[Dan Riehl]

Diplomatic solution - yeah sure, talk while they plot. Are you just cowards, or what?

"for every terrorist you blow up, 2 more spawn."

Even if true, which it isn't, that just makes for what I would call a target rich environment.

[Zifnab]

The diplomatic solution is the one in which you convince your enemy he doesn't want to kill you. It's the solution we've been running with for the past 50 years, and its done amazingly well.

[Phoenix]

I can't believe you made that last statement, Zif. You are certifiable.

As far as this story goes, I bet there is plenty not being reported in the papers. The Italians have a large indigenous population of Muslims. It may well be they were afraid of internal uprisings and figured five Taliban prisoners in an exchange for one of their own was worth it to keep their already restive country quiet. They have 2,000 fighters out there, so we can't call chicken yet. Maybe they figure those troops will shoot the Taliban prisoners sooner or later. In fact, make it a point.

It's a face-game for all the allied leaders. God, who would want their jobs these days.

[Terry Gain]

Amid this bad news and more jabbering from the know nothing left it is fitting to note that the Surge is having a very obvious roborant effect on the great humanitarian mission of our time-the liberation of Iraq.

BTW Aaron, what you don't get is that for every terrorist you kill you don't spawn two more, you in fact discourage others. The tough lesson (for you) is that potential terrorists are more connected to reality than leftists.

[Hard Right]

"Real" leadership? "The diplomatic solution is the one in which you convince your enemy he doesn't want to kill you."

Thanks for showing how demented you are Zif. Clinton bombed the crap out the Serbs. Forget about that? He ALSO hired Halliburton-but that's ok because a Dem did it. Right? Yeah, you can talk to people whose goal is to kill the infidels/convert the world to Islam. Zif, if your head was shoved any further up your ass you'd disappear.

[scarshapedstar]

Oh noes, they're celebrating! We're dooooooooomed! We have to close the celebration gap!

Here's how you really lose the War on Terror. Make a public spectacle of ripping your clothes and wetting the bed every time your opponent trash talks you.

[Mullah Cimoc]

Mullah Cimoc say this big victory for the students. now amriki alliance just fall apart.

so hope ameriki detective finding who start this killing: neocons spy work for the israeli.