eBook

Misfortunes of War

Larson, Eric V, Savych, Bogdan

2007,2006

Overview

This monograph, part of a larger study of ways to reduce collateral damage undertaken for the U.S. Air Force, analyzes media and public reactions to civilian casualty incidents, whether these incidents affect media reporting or public support for military operations, and, if so, how. It analyzes case studies of incidents of civilian deaths in the February 1991 bombing of the Al Firdos bunker in the Gulf War, the April and May 1999 attacks on the Djakovica convoy and Chinese embassy during the war in Kosovo, the June 2002 attack involving an Afghan wedding party during operations in Afghanistan, and the March 2003 incident involving a large explosion in a crowded Baghdad marketplace to describe and explain how the U.S. and foreign media and publics have responded. For each case study, the study team examined press, public, and leadership responses to these incidents and found the following. First, while avoiding civilian casualties is important to the American public, it has realistic expectations about the actual possibilities for avoiding casualties. Second, the press reports heavily on civilian casualty incidents. Third, adversaries understand the publicÂ's sensitivities to civilian deaths and have sought to exploit them. Fourth, during armed conflict, the belief that the United States and its allies are trying to avoid casualties most affects support for U.S. military operations, both at home and abroad. Fifth, while strong majorities of Americans typically give U.S. military and political leaders the benefit of the doubt when civilian casualty incidents occur, this does not necessarily extend to foreign audiences. Sixth, when civilian casualty incidents occur, it is at least as important to get the story right as to get the story out. Finally, attention to and concern about civilian casualties both at home and abroad have increased in recent years and may continue to do so.

• Publisher: RAND Corporation,RAND,RAND Corporation, The
• Subject: 20th century / 21st century / Air Force / Civilian war casualties / Combatants and noncombatants (International law) / Global Security Environment / History / History and Archaeology / Mass media and war / Military history / Military history, Modern / Military history, Modern -- 20th century / Military history, Modern -- 21st century / Moral and ethical aspects / National Security / Political Science / Public relations / Society and Social Sciences / Terrorism and Homeland Security / United States / United States. Air Force / United States. Air Force -- History -- 20th century / United States. Air Force -- History -- 21st century / United States. Air Force -- Public relations / War / War -- Moral and ethical aspects / War in mass media / Warfare and defence
• ISBN: 0833038974, 9780833038975, 9780833042446, 0833042440