You're Da Bomb, Kid

File this under "WTF was he thinking?!?"

An unprecedented move by President Karzai of Afghanistan to pardon a teenage Taleban suicide bomber-and pay him $2,000 to travel home to Pakistan-has drawn stinging criticism and warnings that it will encourage such attacks.

"It is a very silly idea to forgive such criminals. He was a volunteer," Mullah Malang, an MP from Baghdis province, told The Times. "When he goes back to Pakistan he will tell all his friends that he deceived the Afghan Government. He is brainwashed, he will always be a Taleb."

The extraordinary case involved Rafigullah, 14, a would-be suicide bomber, who was captured in May by Afghan police in the province of Khost, which borders Pakistan. He was wearing a suicide vest and riding a motorbike. His target was Arsala Jamal, the governor of the province.

(snip) "His family thought their child was learning Islamic studies," said Mr Karzai. "That is not his fault, nor his father's. The enemies of Islam wanted him to destroy his life and those of other Muslims. I pardon him and wish him a good life."

Well, thanks to Mr. Krazai's "Generosity," the young man's life is likely to be a short one, one way or another.