U.S. pays kin in deaths of Afghan boys

[donsu]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_re_as/afghan_civilian_deaths


The American colonel bowed his head at the fresh dirt graves of three young boys marked by brightly colored martyrs' flags Wednesday. Then he sat down next to the boys' fathers, expressed his condolences and handed them an envelope full of cash.

Lt. Col. Brian Mennes, commander of a paratrooper regiment in the 82nd Airborne Division, said his visit to a simple mud-brick home was a sign of respect and an attempt to mend relations after the boys were mistakenly killed during the latest NATO offensive.

-snip-

The display of sorrow — and compensation — was part of a campaign to calm Afghan anger over civilian deaths. While the U.S. made payments after a military truck crash last May set off rioting in Kabul, any restitution for deaths of civilians from combat haven't been publicized.

-snip-

Earlier, Mennes gave the family $600 to buy food for visiting friends and relatives. On Wednesday, he gave the fathers $6,000 more, telling them the $2,000 gift for each child was on behalf of the Afghan government.

U.S. soldiers patrolling in the valley earlier ran over a farmer's crops in the area, and Mennes said he would also be paid compensation.
-snip-
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jeez

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Is $2200 the going price for dead kids nowadays?

Hell, the bombs that killed them probably cost more than that.

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy.” - Gandhi

[acmavm]

2. Wonder if old Brian felt that the 6,000.00 absolved the US of all

the guilt usually involved when you kill kids?