Reporter Released; Interpreter, Driver Beheaded

(AP)

Last month, Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, Mastrogiacomo's interpreter Ajmal Naqshbandi, and a driver were kidnapped by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. As the New York Post notes, "Mastrogiacomo was released March 19 in a heavily criticized swap for five Taliban militants."

As for Naqshbandi? The Taliban wanted the same deal, and the Italian government wouldn't play ball. So the Taliban beheaded him over the weekend, just as they had the driver.

Writes National Review Online's Greg Pollowitz: "To borrow a phrase from John Edwards, there are two Italys. One that negotiates with terrorists for the release of their citizens and one that lets terrorists behead non-Italians who happen to be in the employ of major Italian companies."

Brian Montopoli

Brian Montopoli is the national reporter and political analyst for CBSNews.com.

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