Sure; I guess I just mean that the suicide bomber could have chosen *not* to kill the kids, but instead wait until all the sweets had been given out and the soldiers had pulled away before attacking. I think it shows how little respect the bomber had for the children and their lives (and, incidentally, for Iraqi lives in general) that he quite deliberately detonated where it was likely many would be killed or injured, probably knowing that many people both in the Arab and Western worlds would blame the US soldiers for being there in the first place. A PR coup for the bomber, in fact.

At least, that's how I see it. YMMV. In any case, I think it's a bit harsh to lay any culpability on the soldiers for this particular incident (I know you're not blaming them - just saying). I think giving out sweets is actually a decent thing for them to be doing, PR exercise or not.