In the history of war, civilians rarely get a pass. Noncombatants, including children, are inevitably in harm’s way. It doesn’t matter whether the conflict is centered around raw conquest and expansionism, religious dominance, fighting evil, insurgencies, or misinformation. Civilian innocence is rarely a consideration in the pursuit of security, power, riches, or hegemony.
So it is now with the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where most current public and media attention is focused. That said, it is worth remembering that horrific civilian casualties are mounting in South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, among other nations seemingly entangled in “forever conflicts.”
