An Italian aid worker has now been kidnapped in Afghanistan.

Italian aid worker Clementina Cantoni was to have returned to Italy at the end of the month. She had been working in Kabul for three years, for the aid organization Care International.

Her abduction has brought new anguish in Italy where many have become increasingly aware of just how difficult it is for aid workers and journalists to work in some areas of the world, namely Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yes, especially if your government pays handsome ransoms.

Rome has denied ever paying a ransom to obtain the release of its hostages, but analysts say the Italian government has negotiated in every possible way to free its nationals. They say that because of this Italians have been more at risk than others of being abducted.

Gee, ya think?