All the Obie-Messiah Water the AP Can Carry

Find the hidden word:

U.S. pays $40,000 for killing 15 Afghans
By Jason Straziuso, The Associated Press
Updated: 01/27/2009 10:41:10 PM PST

TAGAB VALLEY, Afghanistan - U.S. commanders on Tuesday traveled to a poor Afghan village and distributed $40,000 to relatives of 15 people killed in a U.S. raid, including a known militant commander. The Americans also apologized for any civilians killed in the operation. .......... [Paragraph one, of ten]

The issue of civilian deaths is increasingly sensitive in Afghanistan, with President Hamid Karzai accusing the U.S. of killing civilians in three separate cases over the past month. Karzai has repeatedly warned the U.S. and NATO to guard against killing civilians, saying such deaths undermine his government and the international mission. .......... [Paragraph two]

Blah blah blah (blah blah blah) .......... [Paragraphs three through seven]

"Perhaps there may have been some people accidentally killed," Julian said as he looked at a mud-brick home where villagers said some Afghans died. "If there was collateral damage, I'm very sorry about that." .......... [Paragraph eight]

On the back of an Afghan army truck, U.S. officials paid $40,000 in Afghan currency to representatives of the 15 people killed - $2,500 for each death plus $500 for two wounded men and $1,500 for village repairs. ..........
[Paragraph nine]

Duzz we needs a leetle cluesky there dear blog reader, to help find the hidden word? Hint: ain't tabasco sauce, nor roller skating elephants, or even carbon fibre toothbrush.

Still stumped? Lemme see now ..... who's currently Prez? Is it Kerry? No ... Clinton? Uh uhn, sorreeee. Boosh? McCain? [Bueller ..... Bueller .... ].



Original ten paragraph link here:

From my local commie rag (L.A. Daily News). With the shortest net-shelf life extant.

Longer/unexpurgated ... Kansas City Star.

And a third alternate.