Comment Re:If it depends on heat shimmer... (Score 1) 148
Only if the government controlling the latter cannot, for one reason or another, order them to shoot anyone not wearing the right uniform. (Note: "Civilian clothing" counts as "not the right uniform" in this context).
I would refer you again to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Widespread killing of civilians was common. Also, look at the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. If there's one thing this decade should have taught us, it's that killing a bunch of civilians to get a few insurgents is counterproductive. Outrage over the civilian deaths always seems to generate more insurgents than you get rid of. Excessive brutality by the occupying force invariably plays into the hands of the insurgents.
