Civilian

[newbis]

It seems to me that people need to be reminded what the word "civilian" actually means. This is what Webster's has to say.

Civilian: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force.

One of the problems with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that of terminology. Al'Qaeda, Taliban and insurgent fighters don't

Comments

[eyebeams]

Explain to me the crime in the airstrike. These people claiming to be innocent victims is the same as me claiming to be an innocent victim if a stolen Brinks truck broke down near my house and I either helped the robbers move the money or tried to take the cash for myself, and I got shot in a police crossfire. I'm no warhawk, but I can't bring myself to feel all that sorry for this type of "civilian" casualty.

How would you feel if helping the robbers would keep your family from starving, keep you from being killed by the robbers and their allies, and the government consists of drug lords who suffocate people in cargo containers?

This kind of thing is important because simple assigning of sides leads to widening the scope of complicity, ultimately leading to the type of situations that occurred in Vietnam.

[newbis]

People will continue to starve and be killed even if U.S./NATO forces do nothing. The government of Afghanistan won't be improved by U.S./NATO forces doing nothing.

I respect your opinion, but I don't see Afghanistan turning into Vietnam unless its allowed to.