The Crystal Ship

The air campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has killed more than 450 civilians, according to a new report, even though the US-led coalition has so far acknowledged just two non-combatant deaths.

More than 5,700 air strikes have been launched in the campaign, which nears its first anniversary this Saturday, with its impact on civilians largely unknown.

Now Airwars, a project by a team of independent journalists, is publishing details of 52 strikes with what it believes are credible reports of at least 459 non-combatant deaths, including those of more than 100 children.

It says there is a “worrying gulf between public and coalition positions” on the campaign’s toll on civilians.

To date the US Central Command (Centcom), the lead force in the campaign, has published one official investigation – a report in May that found two children were killed in a November 2014 strike in Syria.

The coalition’s lead commander, Lt Gen John Hesterman, has called the campaign “the most precise and disciplined in the history of aerial warfare”.

Not in and of itself. I feel like there’s a word for this but I can’t figure it out, but bascially what’s happening is fantasy is better than reality. When you see an idealized version of romance that does not involve you, it looks awesome, but the real version of romance that involves you does not live up to the promise. 

Truth be told, romance isn’t necessarily all that special. If you aren’t enjoying it, don’t waste your time on it. If it’s nice, but not as nice as you’d imagine, well… that’s all you’ve got. It’s okay.