Blair and Google news send us links to this story:

Nine children were found dead after a US air raid yesterday in eastern Afghanistan, the US military said early today.

US forces were targeting a suspected militant who was believed to be responsible for the killing of two foreign contractors working on a road in Afghanistan, he said. West said US troops had collected “extensive intelligence” and had located the suspect at an “isolated, rural site.”

He said that other houses were nearby, but that the aircraft did not strike them in the raid, which was first reported by BBC News.

“At the time we initiated the attack, we did not know there were children nearby,” he said. “Until we get the investigation results, we can’t say what exactly happened.” [Emphasis added]

Meanwhile back in Iraq, Oliver Willis and No More Mister Nice Blog link to this NYT article:

In Abu Hishma, encased in a razor-wire fence after repeated attacks on American troops, Iraqi civilians line up to go in and out, filing through an American-guarded checkpoint, each carrying an identification card printed in English only.

[snip]

“With a heavy dose of fear and violence, and a lot of money for projects, I think we can convince these people that we are here to help them,” Colonel [Nathan] Sassaman [the battalion commander whose men oversee the village] said.

OK, so if you let me punch you in the face I’ll give you $5, deal?