Backstory

Reporter's Rescue Cost Afghan's Life

Anger rising over death of interpreter in raid.

Is this the price of freedom? The rescue of New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell cost of the life of his Afghan interpreter, Sultan Munadi. British special forces raided the compound where Farrell was being held, and in the ensuing firefight, Munadi was shot dead and left behind as the troops brought the American to safety. Resentment of NATO forces is growing in Afghanistan in the wake of several military missions that resulted in civilian deaths, The Washington Post reports, and though the Brits expressed sorrow at Munadi's death, many Afghans remain upset, arguing that his death proves international forces care more about Western lives than Afghan ones. Some compared the incident to one in 2007, when an Italian journalist was freed but his driver and interpreter were left behind to be killed by the Taliban.