A drawing from 20+ years back around the time of an earlier gulf conflict. It was an idea I had for a sculpture based on ‘Airfix’ type boys’ assembly kits. These often featured military hardware, ships, planes etc. I made them myself as a youngster. The sculpture would look like the kit for an incident of Collateral Damage.

The work is in pastel with added pieces of torn/cut magazine colour. It is A2 sized.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

The USAF Intelligence Targeting Guide defines the term “[the] unintentional damage or incidental damage affecting facilities, equipment, or personnel, occurring as a result of military actions directed against targeted enemy forces or facilities. Such damage can occur to friendly, neutral, and even enemy forces”. Another United States Department of Defence document uses “Unintentional or incidental injury or damage to persons or objects that would not be lawful military targets in the circumstances ruling at the time. Such damage is not unlawful so long as it is not excessive in light of the overall military advantage anticipated from the attack.”

Intent is the key element in understanding the military definition as it relates to target selection and prosecution. Collateral damage is damage aside from that which was intended. Since the dawn of precision guided munitions, military “targeteers” and operations personnel are often considered to have gone to great lengths to minimize collateral damage. 

 

Source Wikipedia