Figure 1.-- |
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The question of civilians and the responsibility of military forces to avoid causing civilian casualties emerged in Europe after the terrible assaults on civilians during the 30 Years War. European armies by the 18th century to vary degrees attempted to avoid civilian casualties. This changed during World War II when the Germans targeted civilians with genocide and used the Luftwaffe to bomb cities in an effort to force targetting countries to surrender. The Japanese also targetted Chinese civilians. The Allies responded with an even more expansive strategic bombing campaign. After World War II, now safe from Fascism, began to question the morality of the strategic bombing campaign. The question of civilians began to be raised in connection with te Isreali-Palestinian conflict from the very beginning. There are questions of attrocities committed against civilians and these. There are also the question of inadvertent civilian casualties and the quesion of actually causing civilian casualties with the expressed purpose of shapeing public opinion. Unfortunately it is not just civilian casualties that often is at issue, but who is responsibe and what are their motives.
The question of civilians began to be raised in connection with te Isreali-Palestinian conflict from the very beginning. There are questions of attrocities committed against civilians.
There are also the question of inadvertent civilian casualties.
The quesion of actually causing civilian casualties with the expressed purpose of shapeing public opinion now has to be considerd. This is as far as I know a new phonenon in warfare. Propagandists have used the issue of civilian casualties before, but we do not know of instances in which military adversaries have actually put their civilians in harm way wih the purpose of causing casualties which can then be used fpr propaganda. The World War II combantants went to great efforts to protect their civilians.
For some the issue of civilian casualties is sharply compartmentalized. Some people are outraged by all civilian casualties. Others are unoffended are even rejoice in attaks on civilians in the enemy camp.
There are various issues associated with the identity of the force responsible for civilian casualties. We note great moral outage when some civilians are killed, but often only when the enemy is responsible. One has to question the sincerity of this moral outrage applied in such a selective manner. It is not just civilian casualties that often is at issue, but who is responsibe and what are their motives. One would think that the great moral issue here the harm caused to civilians. This is not the case. For many people it is not just the civilans that are at issue, but who is responsible for harming civilans. And also important for some is the motivation of those harming civilans.
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