U.S. & BRITAIN CHIDE ITALY OVER HOSTAGE EXCHANGE

Reuters has a story today on how the U.S. and Britain are complaining that Italy should not have swapped five Afghani prisoners for an Italian journalist held by the Taliban.

"A senior U.S. administration official said on Wednesday Washington had formally complained to Rome about the prisoner swap to free journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo."

This whole argument against swapping prisoners seems surreal and at its base is porous and full of holes. Imagine if the Taliban captured the Bush twins and offered to trade them for Taliban prisoners. Would Bush and Blair remain as unyielding and as stiff-backed if the hostages were their own daughters? Of course not. The firm policy against swapping hostages applies only to other people's kids.