U.S. Killed Civilians in Airstrike, Iraqis say

(U.S. Killed Civilians in Airstrike, Iraqis say - LA Times 10/18/2005)

The above is a story that ran in the Los Angeles Times yesterday. Like most Americans, my heart sinks when there are reports of civilian casualties in ANY conflict. I think we can all agree that civilians are not legitimate targets for military operations. The United States government has been responsible for the deaths of foreign civilians in the past and will be in the future. It is a reality of war, especially during protracted urban conflict. The age of massive mechanized armies is nearly (if not already) over. The US has spent millions, if not billions, of dollars to increase the accuracy of its weapons used in combat. No army has ever put forth the same level of effort to avoid civilian casualties. American citizens have demanded it.

This is in stark contrast to those opposing the US in Iraq. When a suicide bomber kills 50 or 100 Iraqis, the media doesn't say "Terrorist kill 50 Civilians." That type of headline does not garner the same reaction as "US kills Civilians." The basis of this reality brings me back to my previous declaration; civilians are not legitimate targets for military operations. While the US does much to avoid striking civilians, terrorism does everything it can to kill the highest number of civilians. The opposition in Iraq uses "civilian cover" to maximize their survivability, knowing Americans will hesitate when civilians are endangered.

Terrorists in Iraq have DELIBERATELY killed many more Iraqis than those ACCIDENTILY killed by Americans. This is the key distinction. The US tries to avoid civilians while terrorist target them.