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Atrocities in Warfare
by Sarah Holewinksi
Letter to the Editor
Re "Warfare changed, but laws did not, " Jan. 15
Better training for U.S. forces could go a long way toward avoiding another Haditha massacre, but more fundamental change is needed to ensure that future operations prioritize civilian life.
While the U.S. message has been that forces make every effort to avoid adverse effects to civilians, those efforts have often been ad hoc, from Vietnam to Afghanistan. The issue becomes a priority when external pressures demand attention. This is neither morally acceptable nor strategically smart.
Troops in Afghanistan learned to pay attention to civilian harm because anger over casualties — including those caused within the law — was crippling the mission. Top brass prioritized avoiding civilians and the casualty rate went down.
It's time to bring that intensive focus to Washington by creating a Pentagon office dedicated to civilian protection issues in U.S. operations, training included.
Sarah Holewinski, Washington
The writer is executive director of the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict.
