Twelve-Year-Old Iraqi Boy Killed by US Troops After Grenade Attack

Still, the report stated that after U.S. and Iraqi forces came under grenade attack Thursday in the western part of Mosul, U.S. forces responded by firing at several people, killing the boy. He was found with 10,000 Iraqi dinars, or around $8.50, in his hand.

Major Derrick Cheng, a U.S. spokesman in northern Iraq, said:

"We have every reason to believe that insurgents are paying children to conduct these attacks or assist the attackers in some capacity, but undoubtedly placing the children in harm's way."

It would be truly tragic and depraved if insurgents were doing so, but it would be equally tragic and depraved if, in fact, this child was innocent. It's certainly true that in Iraq, a 12-year-old possessing 10,000 dinars looks a little suspicious.

Cheng added that another boy was briefly detained but released.