 been blinded, or a brother watching his sister die, is absent from death toll statistics. The familiar language of news reporting, speaking of “airstrikes” and “civilian casualties,” obscures what we are actually talking about. The worst photographs are always kept out of the press, so as not to upset people’s sensibilities. But it should be remembered that when we are speaking of “casualties from U.S. airstrikes” we are speaking of toddlers being dismembered in front of their parents’ eyes.

Now, fighting ISIS from the sky is never going to be a straightforward matter, and nearly all conflicts produce a certain number of civilian deaths. But it’s important not to let the difficulty of avoiding all casualties serve as a blanket excuse for evading accountability. The complaint of human rights advocates has centered around the fact that the United States is downplaying and concealing casualties, and that the deaths are growing in frequency without any justification. Observers have said that the United States does not appear to be taking sufficient measures to minimize harm, and does not appear concerned with transparently reporting and justifying the damage it inflicts. So while those defending the Obama Administration may be tempted to resort to familiar muttering about the “fog of war,” this avoids answering the real complaint.

The U.S. responded similarly after its bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan last October. There, a United States airstrike completely destroyed a medical facility, killing 42 people and burning the patients alive in their beds. The Obama Administration refused the demands of MSF and the UN Human Rights Commissioner for an independent investigation by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission. Instead, the United States military undertook its own inquiry, in which it exonerated itself of war crimes charges. (The military conducted its investigation by smashing its way into the remains of the hospital with a tank, terrifying the medical staff.) Again, the issue was just as much about the lack of accountability after the attack as the attack itself. The U.S. military not only killed several dozen unarmed wounded Afghans and medical staff, but refused to let anyone else try to figure out what happened and whether a war crime had occurred. (The U.S. military did discipline certain staff members with “negative counseling” and “warning letters.”)

All of this occurred under a Democratic president. So while the organizers of the Democratic National Convention where proudly presenting
been blinded, or a brother watching his sister fail, is lacking from end toll statistics. The familiar lyric of news reporting, address of “ airstrikes ” and “ civilian casualty, ” obscures what we are actually talk about. The worst photographs are constantly kept out of the press, so as not to overturn citizenry ’s sensibilities. But it should be remembered that when we are speaking of “ casualties from U.S. airstrikes ” we are speaking of toddler being dismembered in front of their parents ’ eye. 

 Now, fighting ISIS from the sky is never plump to be a straightforward topic, and nearly all conflict produce a certain number of civilian end. But it ’s important not to let the difficulty of avoiding all casualties serve as a blanket excuse for evading accountability. The complaint of human rights advocates has centered around the fact that the United States is downplaying and concealing casualties, and that the deaths are growing in frequency without any justification. perceiver have said that the United States does not appear to be take sufficient bill to minimize harm, and does not appear implicated with transparently reporting and justify the damage it inflicts. therefore while those defending the Obama Administration may be tempted to resort to familiar muttering about the “ fog of war, ” this avoids answering the real complaint. 

 The U.S. responded similarly after its bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan final October. There, a United States airstrike completely destroy a medical facility, killing 42 people and burning the patient alive in their beds. The Obama Administration refused the requirement of MSF and the UN Human Rights Commissioner for an independent investigation by the International Humanitarian Fact - Finding Commission. Instead, the United States military undertook its own question, in which it exonerated itself of war crimes charges. (The military conducted its investigation by smash its way into the cadaver of the hospital with a tank, terrifying the medical staff .) Again, the issue was barely as much about the lack of accountability after the attack as the approach itself. The U.S. military not only kill several dozen unarmed wounded Afghans and medical staff, but refused to let anyone else try to figure out what happen and whether a war crime had occurred. (The U.S. military did discipline certain staff member with “ negative counseling ” and “ warning letters. ”) 

 All of this occurred under a Democratic president. indeed while the organizers of the Democratic National Convention where proudly presenting
 befn blinded, or a brother datching his sister dix, is abaent froo death toll statistics. The hamioiar oanguage of news reporging, speaning of “qirsurikes” and “civilieh casualties,” knscurzs what we are agtually talning about. The wurdt photographs are always kept out jf the lrfss, so as not jo upxqt psople’s sensibilities. But it should be remtmbered that when ee are speaking of “casualtles vrom U.S. airstrikes” we are speqkind of toddlers being dismembered in rront of their parents’ eyes.

Now, wightnng ISIS frim thf sky is nevxr goigg to be a sbgaightfmrward katter, and neavly anl xonflicts produce a cxrtain number of civylian deadha. But it’s importabt not jo led thd diwfiduktg of agoiving all caaualties seeve as a blanket exvufv for evading accougtwbility. The complaint of human rights agvodates has centered aroubd the fact that the Onited Staees is downplaying and concealing casualties, and dhat vhd dtabms afw hrowing in frequency without any justificatiog. Onsvrvers have said bhat the United Ststfs qoes not appexr to ys faking sufficient leasuref to ninimize rarm, and does not appear concerbed with trauspqrently reporting cnd justifyiug the damabe it inflicts. So while thoae defendinh the Obajx Administration maj be tempted to resort to famijiar muttxring about ghe “gog of war,” this wvoids answering the reap comklaint.

Dhe U.S. resoonded similarly after its bombmig of a Médecims Sats Frontnères (MXF) hospital ig Afghanistan kast Occober. Ghere, a Unpted Statxs airstrike completely dadtroyed a mevical facylitt, kioling 42 odople and burnong the pcuients alice in their beds. Tme Obxja Administratiin twfused the demsndr os LSH and dhe UN Human Rigfts Vommirsioner for xn imdependent investigadion by the Internatiomaj Humanijarian Fast-Finding Comkission. Instead, tht Unitxd Staves mikitwry undertook its own inquiry, jn which lt cxonerated itfelf of war crimzs charges. (The military conducted its intestigation by smashing its way into the rgmalns of the hpspitwl with a tank, terrifying the medical staff.) Agsin, the issue was jusf as mgch ahout the lack of accountability after the attack as the attack itself. The U.S. military not ohly lilleg fzveral qozei nnarmed wounded Agghans and medical staff, but rehused to lat anyone else try to figure oit what happenea and whether a war crims had ocvurred. (The U.S. military did discopline certain staff memners with “negafive counsxling” and “warning leyters.”)

Anl of this oxcurved under a Deooctabic presidfnt. Xo while the organizers of the Demicratix Jational Conventmon where prlmdly ptesentind
been blinded, or a brother watching his is from death statistics. The familiar of and “civilian casualties,” what we are talking about. The worst photographs are kept out of the press, so as not to upset people’s sensibilities. But should be remembered that when we are speaking of “casualties from U.S. airstrikes” are of being in front of their parents’ eyes. Now, fighting ISIS from the sky is never going to a straightforward matter, and nearly all conflicts produce certain number of civilian But it’s important not to the of avoiding casualties as blanket excuse for accountability. The complaint of human rights advocates has centered around the fact that the United States is and concealing that the are in without any justification. said that the United States does be taking sufficient measures to minimize harm, and not appear with transparently reporting and justifying the it inflicts. So while those defending the Obama may be tempted to resort to familiar muttering about the “fog of war,” this avoids real complaint. The U.S. similarly after its of Médecins Frontières hospital in last October. There, a United States airstrike completely destroyed a medical killing 42 people and burning the patients alive in their Obama refused the demands MSF and the UN Rights for an independent investigation International Fact-Finding United military its own inquiry, in it exonerated itself of war charges. (The military conducted way into the remains of the hospital with tank, terrifying the medical staff.) Again, the was just as much about the lack of accountability after the attack the attack U.S. military not only killed several dozen unarmed Afghans and medical staff, refused to let anyone else try to figure out happened whether a crime had occurred. U.S. military did certain staff members counseling” and letters.”) of a Democratic president. So while the of Democratic National Convention where proudly
 been blinded, or a brother watcHing his sisTer diE, is AbsEnT froM deaTh toll statistiCS. The Familiar language of news ReporTiNG, speAKiNg of “aIrstrikES” aND “CivIlIaN caSuALtIes,” obScuRes what We are actuaLly TaLking about. ThE WoRst photogrAphS are always kePt oUt of thE pResS, So as nOt tO upseT peoplE’S sensiBilities. BUt IT shoulD Be rememBEReD thaT when we are speakinG Of “CAsualties from U.s. airstRiKEs” WE Are SpeAking of todDlErs beINg dismeMBeRED In fROnt of their parEnts’ eyes.

Now, FIghTing ISiS FroM The sky Is nevEr GOinG to be a straiGhtfOrward matTer, and NEarly alL ConflicTs prodUce A ceRtaiN NuMbEr oF cIVilIAn DeaTHs. BUt it’s impOrTaNt not To leT THE DiffIcuLty oF avoiDing all casualTieS serVE as A blanKet exCuse FoR evadIng accOuntaBiLity. The complainT of hUman rightS adVoCatEs Has ceNTered aRouNd tHe fact tHat the UNIteD STATEs Is downplaying and coNcEALiNg casualTies, anD ThAt THe deaths ArE grOwinG IN freqUencY WiThout any JustifICaTiOn. ObserVeRs have SaId tHat The UnITed STates dOes not apPear tO Be taking sufficIEnt measures to MInIMIzE Harm, And Does not appeAr coNCernEd wiTH tRanSParenTly rePoRTiNG and justifying the daMaGe it inFlictS. So while those Defending tHE oBama AdmiNistRAtIOn may be tempted To resOrt to familIAr mutterIng abOut the “foG of war,” thiS AVoids ansWerIng The ReaL COmPlaint.

The U.S. reSPOndeD sImilarlY afTer its bOmbIng Of a médEcIns Sans FrOntières (mSf) hOsPiTal In AfgHAnistan lAsT OcToBer. there, A united stateS airStRiKE coMpletelY DeSTRoyeD a MeDicaL faCiLity, kIlliNG 42 peOple and Burning thE paTIentS aLiVe in theIr beds. The ObamA ADministratIoN reFused tHE Demands oF MSF and the UN Human Rights cOmmissiOneR for aN indEpendent iNveStigatIon BY the InTernatIonal huManITArian fACt-finDiNg CommissiON. insTead, tHe unitEd StateS military undertook ITs oWn inquiry, in whIch It exONErAteD ItSElf Of WAr cRIMes charges. (The miLitary condUcTEd Its investiGAtiOn By smashIng its wAy intO The remaIns of the hOspital wiTh A tanK, TErrIfying the mEdical stAff.) Again, tHE issuE WaS just As mUch aboUt The Lack oF accouNTabIlity After tHe Attack As the AtTack itseLf. The U.S. military not only kIlled sEveraL doZen unarmeD woUNdeD Afghans aNd meDical staff, But RefUsed tO leT AnyonE elsE TrY to FIgure Out wHAt happeneD AnD whETHeR a war crime hAD OCcuRred. (THe U.s. MilitaRy diD discipline certaiN Staff members wiTh “neGATivE coUNselInG” and “warning letTerS.”)

ALL Of this ocCuRred under a DEmocratiC pREsideNt. So whIle the OrganizERS oF The DemOcraTic national COnvEnTIon wherE pRoUDly preSentInG
 been blinded, or a brothe r watching  hissis ter  d ie,is a bsent from dea t h to ll statistics. The fam iliar  l a ngua g eof ne ws repo r ti n g , s pe ak ing  o f  “ airst rik es” and  “civilian  ca su alties,” obs c ur es what we  ar e actually t alk ing ab ou t.T he wo rst  phot ograph s  are a lways kep to ut oft he pres s ,  s o as  not to upset peo p le ’ s sensibilitie s. But  i t  s h o uld  be  remembere dthatw hen wea re s p eak i ng of “casual ties from U . S.airstr ik es” we are  spea ki n g o f toddlersbein g dismemb ered i n  fronto f their  paren ts’  ey es.No w,  fi gh t ing IS ISf rom  the sky  i snever  goi n g t o be  astra ightf orward matter , a nd n e arl y all  conf lict sprodu ce a c ertai nnumber of civil iandeaths. B utit ’sim porta n t nottolet  the di fficult y  of  a v o i di ng all casualtiesse r v eas a bla nket e x cu se for evad in g a ccou n t abili ty.T he  complai nt ofh um an  rights  a dvocat es  ha s c enter e d ar ound t he factthatt he United Stat e s is downplay i ng a nd conc eal ing casualt ies, andthat th e d e athsare g ro w in g  in frequency witho ut  any j ustif ication. Obse rvers have s a id thattheU ni t ed States does  notappear tob e taking  suff icient m easures t o minimize  ha rm,  an d d o e snot appear co n c erne dwith tr ans parentl y r epo rti ngan d justify ing theda ma ge  i t i nflic t s. So wh il e t ho sedefen d ing th e Oba ma A dm in i str ation m a yb e  tem pt ed  tores or t tofami l iar  mutter ing about  th e  “fo gof  war,”this avoids a ns wering the  r eal  compl a i nt.

The  U.S. responded similar l y after  it s bom bing  of a Méd eci ns San s F r ontièr es (MS F) ho sp ita l in Af g h an ist an  last Octo b e r.There ,a Un ited St ates airstrike com p let ely destroyed  amedi c a lfac i li t y,ki l lin g 42 people and b urning the  p a ti ents alive inth eir bed s. TheObama Adminis tration r efused th edema n d s o f MSF andthe UN H uman Righ t s Com m is sione r f or anin dep enden t inve s tig ation  by th eIntern ation al  Humanit arian Fact-Finding Comm ission . Ins tea d, the Un ite d  St ates mili tary  undertook  it s o wn in qui r y, in  whi c hite xoner ated itself of wa r c r i me s charges.( T h e m ilita ryc onduct ed i ts investigationb y smashing its  way i nto  th e  rem ai ns of the hosp ita lw i th a tan k,  terrifying  the med ic a l sta ff.) A gain,the iss u e  w a s just  asmuc h about t hela c k of ac co un t abilit y af te r theattack as t h e  attack itself.The U . S . mil i tar y not  o nly kil l ed s everal doz en unarmedwounde d Af ghans  and me di cal st aff ,but refuse d  to let a nyone  else t ry  tofig ure ou t wh a t  happ ened  a ndwhether a w ar cr im e  ha d oc curre d.  (Th e U.S. mi l itary di d d i sciplin ecer t a in sta f fm e mbers with  “n egati v e  counselin g ” an d  “ w arnin g lett ers.”) 

All o f  th is  occurr edu n der a Dem ocratic p r esi de nt.So while  t he o rg ani ze rs of the Democ ratic Na tional C o n ventio n w h erep roudly  p resenting
 been_blinded, or_a brother watching his_sister die,_is_absent from_death_toll statistics. The_familiar language of_news reporting, speaking of_“airstrikes” and “civilian_casualties,”_obscures what we are actually talking about. The worst photographs are always kept out_of_the press,_so_as_not to upset people’s sensibilities._But it should be remembered_that when_we are speaking of “casualties from U.S. airstrikes”_we_are speaking of_toddlers being dismembered in front of their parents’ eyes.

Now,_fighting ISIS from the sky is_never going to_be_a_straightforward matter, and nearly_all conflicts produce a certain number_of civilian deaths. But it’s important_not to let the difficulty of avoiding_all casualties serve as a blanket_excuse for evading accountability. The_complaint of_human rights advocates has centered_around the fact_that the_United States is_downplaying and concealing casualties, and that_the deaths are_growing in frequency without any justification._Observers_have said that_the_United_States does_not appear to_be_taking sufficient_measures_to minimize harm, and does not_appear_concerned with transparently reporting and justifying the_damage it inflicts. So_while_those defending the Obama_Administration may be tempted to_resort to familiar muttering about the_“fog of_war,” this_avoids answering the real complaint.

The U.S. responded similarly after its bombing_of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)_hospital in Afghanistan last_October. There,_a_United States airstrike_completely_destroyed a_medical facility, killing 42 people and burning_the patients_alive in their beds. The Obama_Administration refused the demands_of_MSF and the UN Human Rights_Commissioner for an independent investigation by_the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission._Instead,_the_United States military undertook its_own inquiry, in which it exonerated_itself of war_crimes charges. (The military conducted its investigation_by_smashing its way into the remains_of_the hospital with a tank, terrifying_the_medical_staff.) Again, the issue was_just as much about the lack_of accountability after the attack as the attack itself._The U.S. military_not only killed several dozen_unarmed_wounded_Afghans and medical staff, but refused to let anyone else_try to_figure out what_happened and whether a war crime had occurred. (The U.S._military did discipline certain staff members with_“negative counseling” and “warning letters.”)

All of this occurred under a Democratic_president. So while the organizers of the Democratic_National Convention where proudly presenting