The Britts Are Still Our Best Ally

Many Americans remain angry after Scotland released the only person held responsible for the Lockerbie plane crash and with good reason, but let's not lose sight of the one ally America can still count on when needed.

Deadly Afghan raid frees kidnapped reporter
British commando, NYT journalist’s interpreter are killed during gunbattle:

updated 7:06 p.m. ET, Wed., Sept . 9, 2009

KABUL, Afghanistan - During the first two days of captivity, The New York Times reporter and his Afghan translator were optimistic about being released. Then more Taliban came to the hide-out and taunted the captives about an Italian journalist who was freed while his Afghan interpreter was beheaded.

The menace grew — until British commandos launched a rescue raid. The reporter survived; his Afghan colleague died in a volley of gunfire as he shouted "Journalist! Journalist!" Four others, including a British soldier, also were killed.

Stephen Farrell, who was not injured in the rescue Wednesday, is one of a half-dozen foreign journalists to be kidnapped in Afghanistan over the last several years. His Times colleague, David Rohde, was abducted by militants south of Kabul last November and eventually escaped his captors while being held in Pakistan.

Full story here.