When you fight a war you must fight to win. You place your soldiers in harms way, and therefore have a responsibility to protect them in any way possible. The enemy fights a new kind of war, and often they shoot from behind women, children and babies. Please don't tell me they are supposed to stand there, and take fire. Their lifestyle is different to ours, worlds apart. United States forces do everything possible not to shoot at innocent civilians, but they are not stationed anywhere to be target practice for the enemy.

There are those that say we use too much force with our military. Wake up, war is not a pretty. No matter what you say or think, people are going to die. It's a sad fact of life that lives are lost in wartime. None of us want American soldiers to be the ones lying on the ground. That is why the United States must stay the top military force in the world. Even if we don't want to admit it, we have all benefited from this.

Innocent people have always died in war-time. If the people of the city would co-operate with our soldiers, fewer of them will get caught in the crossfire, but that's not the way the enemy of today approaches things. They don't care who dies, even if it is themselves. We are fortunate that those representing our country are not seeking to die. If they were not trained to react in an acceptable way in a war zone, just think of the mayhem.

When we send our men and women into a combat zone, do you think they are told to kill as many individuals as possible? That goes for the innocent as well as the enemy. They are the best trained military force in the world, always trying to protect the innocent. Aren't you glad they are on our side, or would you rather a gunman was standing behind you firing a gun at the American soldiers?

Accidental killings by fighting forces will never be quelled. They never have been. What makes anyone think it will change? Don't you think some unknowing person might walk out of a doorway unexpectedly, and get hit by gunfire? There are so many other scenarios like the preceding one that it is quite scary, but it will never stop.

Bill Clinton spoke about the new century coming, but has anything changed? Man is better than every animal at killing, but at least the United States strives to kill only the combatants they face. The enemy just wants to kill. There lies the difference. I hope our side of the difference will remain.

Learn more about this author, Harvey Stelman.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Will there ever be a chance for world peace??
We want to hear your view. Write now!