Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Kids as Homicide Bombers

FROM CNN.COM, July 7, 2009:
Pakistan: Taliban buying children for suicide attacks

A top Taliban leader in Pakistan is buying and selling children for suicide bombings, Pakistani and U.S. officials said.

Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud has been increasingly using the children in attacks, the officials said. A video released by Pakistan's military shows the children training for the task.

In the video of a training camp, children can be seen killing and going through exercises.

Mehsud has been selling the children, once trained, to other Taliban officials for $6,000 to $12,000, Pakistani military officials said.

Some of the children are as young as 11, the officials said.

The young suicide bombers may be able to reach targets unnoticed, the military said.

Meanwhile, in Afganistan, 11 NATO troops have been killed in the last two days—8 Americans, 2 Canadians, and 1 Briton—while fighting the Taliban.

I realize that also today, July 7, 2009, the memorial service for Michael is being held in Los Angeles. He was a huge star, and he deserves a huge sendoff. As a peformer, he was one of a kind: I've loved his music from the days of the Jackson 5 until the day (whenever that was) he quit writing, singing, dancing, and fell off the face of reality.

The problem I have is with priorities. Michael and his parents have dominated the news since his death, and all the dirty-laundry-details of child custody and his tangled estate are yet to unfold.

So, while we mourn Michael with almost maniacal passion, the Taliban maniacs are not only using children in an unspeakable manner, but are also killing our collective troops—eleven in two days (and another one kidnapped).

Which makes me wonder: what will it take, or what will have to happen, for people to protest our years-old wars with the same passion they're showing Michael Jackson today?

6 comments:

Wandering Coyote said...

Hear, hear, Charlie!

savannah said...

Amen, Brother! xoxo

Marie said...

I'd say a huge wake-up call and a sharp knife to cut the puppet strings manipulated by corporate media. Otherwise, forget it.

Barbara Bruederlin said...

You make very valid points. It's far too easy for us as a society to focus on the cult of celebrity. And then it's as though there is no room left in our consciousness to focus on reality.

Kim Ayres said...

It would take the killing of a major pop star in the war to drive that kind of protest action.

stinkypaw said...

I hear you sir! I've wondered the same thing on numerous occasions; a sad reflection of our priorities as a society...