Why are more civilians dying in US wars than soldiers?

Question

Between 70-85% of all deaths in US wars since World War II have been civilians living in those countries, the majority of which are children, according to Howard Zinn.

How can these deaths be prevented when America decides to go to war?

Answer 1

George Carlin said it is because "we love to bomb brown people."

Answer 2

Because many Americans think all Iraqis are effectively terrorists and therefore have no sympathy for them. Not all Americans obviously, but a sizeable minority. I'll never forget the sinking feeling I felt in the 90s when those scud missiles were launched into Iraq and when they launched I would wonder where they would land and how many poor innocent people were about to die. I could never watch those computer images where you can see them aiming at targets either. I know many of them directly targetted the enemy - but it looked too much like a computer game - except with real people. Made me feel sick. Edit: There you are - the man above me has proved my point. Many Americans don't make a distinction between "civilian" and "terrorist". In many cases it's not their fault - it's what their media tell them. Since half of Americans don't even own a passport, or have ever travelled abroad - they really don't know very much about the rest of the world.

Answer 3

Civilian deaths are known as "Collateral Damage". In WW II civilians were deliberately targeted as a way of destroying the moral of the populace. In the current civil war in Iraq, the murder of civilians is used to spread terror among the Iraqi people, and to cause a division between the Shiites and Sunnis. America has done nothing to prevent this murder, and has caused it to grow by having no plan in place to "win the peace" once the Mission was Accomplished.(in 2003)

Answer 4

I don't Think it can be prevented. There are alot more civilians than Military. When You go to another country and wage war on them, how can you tell who is an enemy soldier and who is a civilian. Also just because a civilian doesn't shoot a gun doesn't meen they don't nurse the soldier that's tryng to kill you. The point is you cannot go to war with a country without going to war against it's people as well as it's military.

Answer 5

I can only assume you haven't done any research into civilian casualties in wars prior to the Gulf War and the present conflict in Iraq. And you ignore who is causing the majority of the civilian casualties.

Now to answer your question. With the technology we have today the number of civilian casualties caused by US troops has been reduced dramatically. While it is true the present conflict has caused an increase of civilian casualties recently. It is important to note it's NOT the US troops that are doing the majority of the causalties. It's insurgents and secular militias. who are doing most of the killing of civilians.

How can the US prevent these deaths? They can send you over there unarmed to talk (that seems to be what you want to do is talk.) to the folks who are doing the killing to convince them they are in error for targeting civilians INTENTIONALLY.

Answer 6

Ok.

War sucks, let me get that out of the way first.

When we go to fight a war, we have no pre set battle fields. No nice clear and friendly places set up as killing grounds. We have cities and countries.

American soldiers will enter any battle that brings us as American citizens safety. If you harbor terrorist, fund them or aid them then you become a target.

It is sad when children are killed in combat. But if parents do not do all that they can do to keep them safe then we should not blame the soldier. Ask any American Soldier and you will find that they go to great pains to insure that children are not harmed.

The only way to prevent the deaths of children is for people to value life. Theirs and that of their children. Presently we are dealing with a culture that values death more than life.

During the cold war one of the greatest reasons for the avoidance of nuclear war was the simple fact that the Russians did in fact love their children.

Answer 7

War is hell, and sadly, the innocent do die in all wars, not just US wars. Look at Isreal, Northern Ireland...conflicts we have no part of, but where there are mostly civilian deaths.

And the people who cause these deaths are those who resort to guerilla warfare and don't care about the civilians. American troops do their very best to minimize civilian casualties whenever possible.

Answer 8

civilians die in every war,not just ones fought by The United States. some are innocent casualties-others do not have "uniforms",so they might be considered "civilian".
to answer your second question-when America decides to go to war,the enemy should just surrender.that way everything will be nice and tidy-no messy limbs,entrails or brain matter to deal with-would that be o.k.?

Answer 9

I can't speak to every war, but as to the Iraq war: Perhaps if civilians stopped strapping on bombs and blowing themselves and everything around them to pieces, the civilian death rate would be dramatically reduced. These people are doing it to themselves.

Answer 10

more civilians die in EVERy war...
and they are not mostly children....Howard Zinn obviously is trying to stir up controversy..and it's working because uninformed people like you are believing him.
read your newspaper.....investigate on your own through other reports....from ALL OVER the world...not just the u.s....no wonder you people are stupid...do you even know how to read?
if you do...read your OWN question....how can "these" deaths be prevented when american decides to go to war....now think just for a second at how dumb that question is....war=bombs and guns bombs and guns=death and destruction sheesh

Answer 11

Unfortunately it cannot, government no longer fight wars with just their armies on a battlefield. instead weapons are housed in cities and soldiers hide among civilians so the casualties among civilians are unavoidable.