| dec 9, 03 Uninteresting News on Death and Apology I don't like news. They tell me of nine children killed by a logistical-intelligence-algorithmic mistake committed by a rather stressed, overworked fighter pilot. Our heartfelt sympathies with them, stressed as they are by warring, hostile and uncivil tribes all over the world. You can't possibly handle so much chaos and pressure in your vast military-, romantic- and mind-scapes at the same time--Iraq, Afghanistan, Steel, Al-Qaeda, elections, Iran, Blair, Taleban, Christmas-around-the-corner, Saddam... Mistakes are bound to happen. We undertsand. It's obviously a technicality that the errors may involve laser-guided bombs directed at hapless, one-meal-a-day children whose only response to over-flying jets is to wave and follow the wooshy trail with hungry but bright, hopeful eyes. Have you seen eyes choking or choking eyes? Gracious magnanimty lies in visting the place and wiping off some traces of death. Dusty Afghan hats, pockmarked shoes, blood-stained toys remain. The chidren are gone. 'The deaths are regretted' is the official word. It wasn't friendly fire. |