nntp(news) through firewall proxy needed

[george young]

[python-2.3a1 x86 linux]
I need to make a proxy news server that will accept a tcp connection
from a newsreader, open a connection through a firewall to a real nntp
server, and forward data between them.  It needs to support multiple
connections (only a few), so I suppose either forking or threading is needed.

The firewall connection looks kinda like:

  % telnet firewall
  Trying 10.0.0.4
  Connected to firewall.
  Escape character is '^]'.

  Telnet Proxy Service
  (c)onnect host [port]

  telnet tn-gw-> c netnews.foo.com 119
  Trying 111.22.33.44 port 119...
  Connected to netnews.foo.com
  200 netnews.foo.com NNRP Service Ready - usenet at foo.com (posting ok).

and no, socks is not an option.

Does anyone have such a beast, or have suggestion as to how to proceed?

Simplicity, not performance, is desired.

And, of course, python would be most fun, but any clean solution
would float my boat...