Thursday, October 8, 2015

Research into the Term "Collateral Damage" from Ruksana Kabealo

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "collateral damage" as: "injury inflicted on something other than an intended target; specifically :  civilian casualties of a military operation" [1]

Though the term has come into the common vernacular today, it's origins are military.

The first known use of this term by the United States was in 1968. It was originally used to describe civilian deaths caused by nuclear weapons [2]. The term became more commonly used during the Vietnam War, especially when talking about the use of widespread, imprecise killing tactics, such as carpet bombing (bombing areas rather than specific targets [3]) and the use of Agent Orange, which were common during that time. [4].

The controversy with the term begins early. Some sources claim the term was actually used among soldiers during the Vietnam War as a euphemism to refer to the intentional killing of noncombatants [5]. Critics of the term claim it dehumanizes deaths, and is used mostly by governments as a way to excuse wartime atrocities [6].


Another way of looking at "collateral damage" [8]

Determining what exactly constitutes "collateral damage" and what constitutes negligence (or, in extreme cases, a war crime) can be difficult. Collateral damage isn't addressed in international law. However, the Geneva Conventions contain certain restrictions on indiscriminate attacks. Article 57 of the 1977 Addition Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, for example, states that "constant care shall be taken to spare the civilian population, civilians, and civilian objects" during international conflicts. Article 51 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits carpet bombing, as well as attacks whose effects cannot be controlled [7]. It's worth noting that both of these articles went into effect long before the start of the Vietnam War.

References: 

[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collateral%20damage

[2] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/collateral-damage

[3] http://www.crimesofwar.org/a-z-guide/carpet-or-area-bombing/

[4] http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/153476

[5] Anthony H. Cordesman (2003). The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics, and Military Lessons. Praeger/Greenwood. p. 266.

[6] http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9742/m2/1/high_res_d/thesis.pdf

[7] http://www.crimesofwar.org/a-z-guide/392/#sthash.KeSjPqFG.pm5mHPdu.dpuf

[8] https://hateandanger.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/one-mans-collateral-damage-is-another-mans-son.jpg


9 comments:

  1. Collateral damage is a term that is widely controversial, with collateral damage the military calls it an "accident" and the killing of innocent lives should never be an accident and it should never come to innocent people losing their lives, even if it is a so call accident.

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  2. The image that you used here I find really touching. It really makes the consequences of war really hit home. This image was made to get through to the public's emotions. And other things can cause collateral damage. This image is a reminder that certain actions have certain consequences and we have to consider that.

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  3. It crazy to think that so many innocent people get killed during war time that there had to be a defining term to account for all of those ever rising numbers. I makes getting personal with the loss of human life hard when you get a blanket term like "collateral damage" thrown over the names of people who have died.

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  4. I find it wild how often this happens during war with all of the new technologies and advanced warfare that there is now. There was even a recent bombing by the U.S. that hit a hospital and killed innocent people and injured a lot more. I think it is a horrible tragedy that happens but it happens all the time and it is almost sickening to think about. The people that killed in these attacks didn't do anything and yet they pay the ultimate price.

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  5. Going into the science about the term "Collateral damage" and realizing that language can change the complete meaning of something is mind blowing. The fact that "accidentally" killing without purpose can be almost covered up with the term "collateral damage" is almost frightening. It shows how important and what an impact language has on the world.

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  6. Going into the science about the term "Collateral damage" and realizing that language can change the complete meaning of something is mind blowing. The fact that "accidentally" killing without purpose can be almost covered up with the term "collateral damage" is almost frightening. It shows how important and what an impact language has on the world.

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  7. Collateral damage is such and unfortunate term in the sense of war and the way it has been depicted. I believe this is a tough subject and I do believe you covered it thoroughly. I think the term is very hard hitting and deserves all of the fear and anger it gets. I think in the future Humanity should do their best to reduce collateral damage, but I highly doubt that will ever happen.

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  8. I think the picture you used is really powerful. It's not right for innocent lives, including young children as in the picture, to lose their lives for no reason. I'm glad there are protocols and restrictions that must be followed so fewer innocent people die.

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  9. Collateral damage is a really terrible term, no innocent life should be taken ever and covering it up with the term "collateral damage" to get away with it is sickening.

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