Pentagon cutting civilian harm mitigation program may break the law: Report
The Pentagon's recent cuts to its civilian harm mitigation program may violate federal law, according to an internal watchdog report. This program was established to reduce civilian casualties during military operations, but its effectiveness has been compromised by staffing issues and funding cuts. The inspector general has called for the military to address these shortcomings and comply with legal requirements.
- ▪The Pentagon's cuts to civilian harm mitigation may be breaking the law.
- ▪Federal law mandates the existence of a civilian protection program.
- ▪The military's internal watchdog reported that the program has essentially collapsed.
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The Pentagon’s cuts to civilian harm mitigation, meant to reduce and respond to civilian casualties in military operations, may be breaking the law, the agency’s internal watchdog said in a recent report. Federal law requires the military to have a civilian protection program, such as the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan. The Pentagon’s inspector general said in a new report that military commanders warned that cutting this program makes wars harder to win — it damages alliances, fuels enemy propaganda and wastes resources responding to avoidable incidents. After years of U.S. military strikes killing civilians in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, the Pentagon created a detailed plan in 2022 to better avoid and respond to civilian casualties.
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