Fox and MSNBC Won't Discuss This Tragedy (WYBE Democracy Now)

On March 3, 2011, NATO forces under General David Rodriguez killed nine Afghan children collecting firewood. Helicopter gunships hovered around the children, ages 9-15, including two sets of brothers. The one survivor of the attack was an 11-year­ old boy named Hemat who told the NYT that "the helicopters hovered over us, scanned us, and we saw a green flash from the helicopters. Then they flew back high up, and on the second round, they hovered over us and started shooting. The helicopter gunships shot the boys one after another." This was at least the third incident in two weeks that the Afghan government accused NATO forces of killing large numbers of civilians in air strikes. An Afghan government panel is still investigating claims that some 65 people were killed including 40 children in the U.S. led attack on Wednesday.On Wednesday, General Petraeus, top NATO commander, issued an unusual apology for the attack on the nine boys. In a written statement Petraeus said, "We're deeply sorry for this tragedy and apologize to the Afghan Government, the people of Afghanistan, and most importantly, the surviving family members of those killed by our actions." But he has refused to apologize for other NATO attacks on civilians. Last month, Petraeus shocked his Afghan counterparts when he suggested in a closed meeting that pro Taliban Afghans might be burning the children to exaggerate civilian casualties. Probably he hasn't seen pictures of boasting U.S. soldiers with Afghan bones.Rick Riley of Big Noise Films, independent journalist who has been to Afghanistan a number of times: "Outrageous comment by Petraeus that Afghans would kill their children to receive a few thousand dollars that the U.S. military gives out in condolence payments. But the string of attacks shows that the surge is over. We were going to end our strikes and protect the population." A grandfather said, "An apology is not enough. This happens every day."