Ambassador: US `heartbroken' terrorists, extremists used kids

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The US ambassador to the United Nations says the United States is "heartbroken" that terrorists and extremists use kids to carry out acts of violence. Zalmay Khalilzad was commenting on a US report that a total of 2,500 youths under the age of 18 have been detained for periods up to a year or more in President George W. Bush's anti-terrorism campaign since 2002. Khalilzad said Tuesday the US tries to meet the psychological and educational needs of youngsters who are detained and keep them apart from adults. The report to the UN's Committee on the Rights of the Child last week said the US military is currently holding about 500 juveniles in Iraq and about 10 in Afghanistan.