The high Price of War

“http://www.wjactv.com/news/2688085/detail.html

U.S. Raid Kills 9 Children In Afghanistan
Target Was Militant Who Allegedly Murdered Contractors

POSTED: 8:58 p.m. EST December 6, 2003
UPDATED: 7:36 a.m. EST December 7, 2003

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The intended target was a "known terrorist," but an American air raid in eastern Afghanistan has also left nine children dead.

A coalition spokesman -- Army Maj. Christopher West -- says ground forces later found the bodies of the intended target and the children nearby.

West says an American A-10 aircraft attacked a site south of Ghazni after U.S. forces collected what he called "extensive intelligence over an extended period of time."

He says the target was a militant believed responsible for killing two foreign contractors on an Afghan road in October.

While the United States says nine children as well as the militant were killed, there's different account from a local official.

The secretary for the governor of Ghazni province says the Americans bombed the wrong house, killing eight children and two adults, but not the suspected terrorist. The official says actual target was a former Taliban commander named Mullah Wazir.

West says until an investigation is completed, the military can't say exactly what happened.

He says coalition forces will attempt to offer assistance to the families of the children and the military regrets the lost of any innocent life.

The worst accidental killing of Afghan civilians happened in July 2002. Afghan officials say that's when 48 civilians at a wedding party were killed by a U.S. Air Force gunship.”

“Pink Floyd - The Gunners Dream lyrics

floating down through the clouds
memories come rushing up to meet me now
in the space between the heavens
and in the corner of some foreign field
i had a dream
i had a dream
goodbye max
goodbye ma
after the service when you're walking slowly to the car
and the silver in her hair shines in the cold november air
you hear the tolling bell
and touch the silk in your lapel
and as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band
you take her frail hand
and hold on to the dream
a place to stay
enough to eat
somewhere old heroes shuffle safely down the street
where you can speak out loud
about your doubts and fears
and what's more no-one ever disappears
you never hear their standard issue kicking in your door
you can relax on both sides of the tracks
and maniacs don't blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
and everyone has recourse to the law
and no-one kills the children anymore
and no-one kills the children anymore
night after night
going round and round my brain
his dream is driving me insane
in the corner of some foreign field
the gunner sleeps tonight
what's done is done
we cannot just write off his final scene
take heed of the dream
take heed”