Who’s the real appeaser in this war?

Italy

Barbara Spinelli

La Stampa

The Americans have no call to mock Italy, said Barbara Spinelli in Milan’s La Stampa. No sooner did we secure the release, through a prisoner swap, of an Italian reporter held hostage by the Taliban than American commentators were denouncing us as “spineless and unreliable.” Giving in to hostage takers is no way to fight terrorism, they lectured. Forgive us if we’re a bit confused. Prisoner exchanges happen all the time in wars. Besides, the real appeaser here isn’t Italy, or any member of NATO helping the Americans in Afghanistan. It’s America, which has continued to arm and support Pakistan despite evidence that Pakistan supports the Taliban and tolerates al Qaida. “This, then, is the result of so many years of war: Al Qaida’s headquarters has moved a few miles, from Afghanistan to Pakistan.” And the U.S. is the one looking “unreliable.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up