There's strategic and moral value in avoiding civilian casualties. Undermines terrorist and insurgent propaganda and recruitment, for example. But there are trade-offs. Slows down operations, sometimes lets enemy fighters go, can increase casualties among friendly forces. 2/x
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Fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Obama admin prioritized avoiding civilian casualties. Trump admin reduced that priority. Which is better isn't cut-and-dry. Killing civilians is terrible. Living under ISIS is terrible. Additional American or allied troops dying is terrible. 3/x
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It's obvious to any observer that Saudi and UAE forces bombing Yemen are not prioritizing civilian safety. Closer to complete indifference than concern. It's awful on moral grounds, and almost certainly awful on strategic grounds too. Past the point of defensible trade-offs. 4/x
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US is complicit in civilian deaths in Yemen. One, because the US sold Saudis and Emiratis a lot of their military equipment, and is helping with intelligence, aerial refueling, etc. Also because Trump admin effectively announced that civilian deaths don't really matter. 5/x
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Mattis, Pompeo, and Bolton's lie that Saudi and UAE forces are doing everything they can to avoid civilian casualties is insulting. And they've never defended US involvement. Could've offered platitudes. Could've said nothing. Instead, went with all-in with an obvious lie. (END)
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End of conversation
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