James Kirchick: A tale of two hostages

Within an hour after the release of Alan Johnston, the British Broadcasting Corporation’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip who had been held hostage by an outfit calling itself “The Army of Islam” since March, the accolades for the terrorist organization now running the territory came pouring in.

David Miliband, the new British Foreign Secretary, praised Hamas for “the crucial role they have played in securing this happy outcome,” and thanked the “hundreds and thousands of ordinary Palestinians, especially in Gaza, [who] campaigned tirelessly for Alan’s safe release.”