OCTOBER 26, 2020 – The U.S. military goes to extraordinary lengths to protect civilians on the battlefield, but sometimes casualties occur.
The department has now created a website so people can report information on civilian casualties.
The webpage lists the email and postal mailing addresses of the combatant commands so those with information on civilian casualties can contact the commands.
The U.S. military reviews or investigates incidents involving civilian casualties. In doing so, the U.S. military reviews reasonably available information, including any submitted information.
Harming civilians is never the intended outcome of war, defense officials have repeatedly stressed. It goes against the ethos of the military and is not consistent with U.S. objectives. The U.S. military is always looking to mitigate the potential for civilian harm when conducting military operations.
“I know firsthand from my own experience that — beyond losing one of our own in battle — a commander feels nothing more painfully than the accidental loss of civilian life,” said Anthony Tata, who is performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy. “We are therefore actively working to advance our ability to mitigate civilian harm, and to respond when it occurs. As part of these efforts, it is critical that we ensure that interested individuals are able to provide to the relevant U.S. Defense Department combatant commands information regarding incidents in which U.S. military operations may have [resulted in the injury or death of] civilians.”
“Civilians often endure intense suffering in war,” said Stephanie Hammond, the acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability and humanitarian affairs. “It is a tragic and sobering fact that we take very seriously. That is why the U.S. has continued to demonstrate leadership in employing the latest technologies to mitigate civilian harm, and continues to advance our ability to prevent civilian harm when possible and to respond when it occurs.”
Civilian casualties are a part of conflict. In the past, weapons were crude and not that accurate. During World War II, if bombers got their weapons within the same grid square as the target, it was considered extremely successful.
Today, the United States has the guided munitions and the intelligence apparatus to hit targets more precisely. This lessens the risk of civilian casualties. It does not, however, eliminate it.
“It is important that we assess the outcomes of U.S. military operations, including inadvertent effects on civilians,” Tata said. “This helps us to understand the outcomes of our operations, acknowledge when our operations result in civilian casualties and learn from our experiences to reduce the likelihood of future civilian harm from our operations.”
While members of the public may not always be aware of this webpage, may not have internet access, or may not be able to read its English-language content, Hammond said that this is just one of the means available for the Defense Department to receive or gather information about civilian casualties, and the department will consider if additional options are necessary.
“We frequently hear how difficult it is [for] interested individuals to know who to contact within the Defense Department to provide information about civilian casualties,” Hammond said. “On this webpage, we make that information readily available to the public by providing appropriate email addresses and mailing addresses that people can use to submit information to the relevant combatant command. The U.S. has a long track record of demonstrating transparency related to civilian casualties, and additional steps like this webpage are important as we consider what more we can do.”
No other country goes to these lengths to prevent civilian casualties, said defense officials. Close allies operating with the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria are taking note of U.S. efforts in this realm.
The webpage is just a start. The Defense Department is developing a comprehensive department-wide policy on civilian harm mitigation and response. It will be the first of its kind, Hammond said.
The website can be found at: https://policy.defense.gov/OUSDP-Offices/Reporting-Civilian-Casualties/.
BY JIM GARAMONE, DOD NEWS