The Candy Bomber, and other 'friendly fire'

The Candy Bomber wants to fly again, this time over Baghdad. The Associated Press reports today that Retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, 82, who previously dropped an estimated 23 tons of candy over Berlin and unknown (but much smaller) quantities over Bosnia and Kosovo, plus numerous demonstration drops over U.S. elementary schools, is eager to make another run. Halvorsen spoke at a symposium in Dayton, Ohio, on the 100th anniversary of human flight. If Halvorsen does fly over Baghdad, we hope the candy he drops will be any color other than yellow, because the yellow humanitarian daily rations the U.S. has been dropping look almost exactly like the yellow bombs we've been dropping in the same places. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, CENTCOM deputy director of operations, addressed the subject the other day at the daily droning briefing in Doha, Qatar:

<<The humanitarian daily rations have changed color. We learned some lessons from Afghanistan, and the color of the package is different now. Previously they were bright yellow. There still are some that are out there in the possession of units that are trying to provide humanitarian assistance as they make contact. But the great majority of them in stockages that are being pushed forward in bulk are a different color to account for that. So we're sensitive to the concern about it, and we believe we're taking the right approach to that potential issue and problem. Third row, please.>>

Meanwhile, a new book, The Hunt for Bin Laden by Robin Moore, points out another problem with the ration packets: the little moisture-absorbing packets inside them. Although the packets-within-the-packets are clearly labeled "do not eat," that's only helpful to those who can read it. Some Afghan children didn't follow the instructions and got very, very sick.

'Shut up! I'm broadcasting ... What? I'm bleeding?'

The BBC's World Affairs Editor John Simpson was slightly injured today in a "friendly fire" incident when U.S. forces bombed a Kurdish convoy that also included Simpson, U.S. Special Forces, and the brother of a Kurdish political leader. Simpson, who continued his live broadcast despite a shrapnel wound to his leg, said he counted at least 10 bodies. "This is just a scene from hell here," Simpson said.

At least Simpson survived. Two journalists embedded with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division have died in Iraq in the past few days, neither in combat: Michael Kelly of the Washington Post and Atlantic Monthly died in a Humvee accident, and NBC correspondent David Bloom died of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 39.

To keep track of the surviving journalists covering the invasion of Iraq, the Poynter Institute offers a handy (and colorful) map featuring the locations of more than 400 reporters, not including Geraldo Rivera. And to keep track of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on the job, the Committee to Protect Journalists keeps lists of journalists killed in action and missing in action.

Baghdad civilian correspondent Salam Pax hasn't posted any new dispatches on his blog since March 24, but while we wait to hear from him, and pray that he and his family are safe despite all the "friendly fire" in his city, some fans have set up a blog about him, called "Where is Salam?".

No official word yet on whether it was "friendly fire" that hit a convoy of Russian diplomats fleeing Baghdad this morning. The U.S. military, which was informed about the Russians' travel plans in advance, is investigating the incident. Coincidentally, U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice was already on her way to Moscow to try to keep U.S.-Russian relations from deteriorating further.