[Skybird]

"Hussein was suspected of involvement in an attack on ISAF forces in Helmand."

No problem to go after him if that is true.

"Predator drones and Eurofighter jets equipped with sensors were constantly searching for the radio signals from known telephone numbers tied to the Taliban. The hunt began as soon as the mobile phones were switched on. "

Sure you do like that if the phone is associated by intel with a known enemy person, communication network, headquarter.

"When an operation could potentially result in civilian casualties, ISAF headquarters in Kabul had to be involved. "The rule of thumb was that when there was estimated collateral damage of up to 10 civilians, the ISAF commander in Kabul was to decide whether the risk was justifiable," says an ISAF officer who worked with the lists for years. If more potential civilian casualties were anticipated, the decision was left up to the relevant NATO headquarters office. Bodyguards, drivers and male attendants were viewed as enemy combatants, whether or not they actually were. Only women, children and the elderly were treated as civilians."

Bodyguards are hostile combatants for sure, drivers often , too. At one point you have to deice whether you try to fight the enemy wo win the war, or let the enemy win by taking more care for not doing anything wrong. War is dirty, and unfair. I said that often. I also said: let not come bystanders come between you and the killing of your target/enemy.

Even women could be combatants. Yesterday a female suicide bomber blew a Turkish police station into pieces. The Hamas sends children with explosive vests.

"The document also reveals how vague the basis for deadly operations apparently was. In the voice recognition procedure, it was sufficient if a suspect identified himself by name once during the monitored conversation. Within the next 24 hours, this voice recognition was treated as "positive target identification" and, therefore, as legitimate grounds for an airstrike. This greatly increased the risk of civilian casualties. "

As long as there is no well-founded doubt on the name given being wrong, it cannot be questioned in principle.

"Drug dealers, farmers and couriers were also considered valid targets."

Of course they are - their product is one of the basis for financing the Taliban, also, afghaniostan is one of the biggest drug producer worldwide, sending that stuff into your countries. In 2006 I had written a long essay on the background of farmers turning towards poppy cultivation again, so I am aware of some of the existential needs farmers may be driven by. And still - it is at our cost, and the lives of our consumers.

Make the Taliban/IS/AQ and other terrost factions accept and fight by the rules of the Hague land warfare convention so that they do not fight by intentionally melting into the civilian environment to provoke civilian casualties they could use for propaganda, and you might get a slioghtly less unfair, injust, dirty war. But fighting them as the law-less tgerrir7usts that they are, will need you either accepting to make your hands dirty, or fighting by their rules so that they will win.

Want a nicer war: make the enemy fighting it nicer, too. Reciprocity. Best it would be if the enemy could be convinced to line himself up against the wall so that he can be comfortably mowed down in a civilised manner. That way our victors also could be back at home right in time for dinner.