I was disillusioned to the might, strength, prowess and intelligence of the US military at the first Iraq war. First “video game war”. Supposed push-button, super accuracy, etc.
That’s when I first heard the phrase, “collateral damage” all too frequently as a politically correct way of talking about of killing civilians – sometimes entire family trees – during wartime. ie – softening of war crimes.
And we’ve gotten more and more comfortable in that way of thinking.
I remember when it was shocking to hear someone high up talk about turning the middle east into a sheet of glass.
But now it’s just common talk. People outside of our various self-identified clans are simply manufacturing products for industry and if they aren’t, they’re in the way of future factories.