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Collateral damage happens in every war, although efforts are made to minimize and avoid it. In the case of foreign intervention, the killing of civilians, albeit perhaps unintended, can have major and profound impacts on the course of the war. Enemy combatants and surviving civilians can be expected to spread the news of Americans or other foreigners having killed civilians and that changes the attitudes of locals regarding the trustworthiness and appropriateness of American and other foreign involvement in "security" operations. In Iraq, this has been a key factor in the growth of insurgencies and the loss of local support for continued American military presence there.

Although civilians are inevitably killed by American forces, where we are active in the so-called War on Terrorism, it also reflects an inappropriate attitude that devalues human life. When our forces view civilian deaths as expected and acceptable, they occur more frequently. It is not politically correct to mention it, but there have been numerous situations where American forces have shot first and asked questions later. While that can make it temporarily safer for those troops, it also causes the local populace to distrust Americans and support insurgents, because many come to view the Americans as arrogant and violent oppressors, the equivalent of terrorists. Of course, this is not the case with all American forces in the field, but it indisputable that it occurs. Collateral damage and disregard for local civilians has been repeatedly documented as commonplace.

What we should focus our attention on is how to avoid the accidental killing of civilians in volatile places like Somalia. This would require a fundamental change in attitudes and procedures. At present, the health and safety of American troops is considered paramount, a natural perspective. However, our forces have not been consistently provided with the requisite protective armor or appropriate training and orientations before being put in harm's way. Certainly, those can be factors that cause there to be more civilians killed. Our political leadership must ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to protect American forces sent to do battle, but at the same time, the same must be implemented to protect local civilians. At the same time, we should focus more on training local forces than on performing constable or police duties, as we are unlikely to understand the local languages and customs.

The accidental killing of civilians

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