[Poll] Would you call air strikes on enemy leaders?

You are part of the military command in another universe, and your country has the capacity to deliver a magical air strike anywhere in the world.

Currently, your colleagues are debating about whether to send air strikes to target the residences of the military leadership in the enemy country. This means assassinating general, admirals, politicians, etc.

Targeting important structures in the enemy capital is not possible because they are shielded. However, it is not possible for the enemy to shield everything, and most important political figures have families at home that they return to.

By targeting the military leadership, it would briefly stun the military command and take out potentially talented individuals, but a successor would be quickly appointed. However, the psychological warfare would be immense.

The magical air strike is highly likely to have collateral damage. At the minimum, the family of the military leader will probably be killed. In addition, neighboring civilian residences will also be probably be destroyed.

Your country has rich pools of mana and can probably fire as many air strikes as you could possibly want.

Note: Many strategic assets belonging the enemy are “shielded”.​

1. Would you support air strikes targeting enemy military leadership? Why or why not?

2. In what circumstances are air strikes okay?

3. How do you define a war zone?

4. What amount of civilian casualties are “tolerable”, in your opinion?

5. In what ways would warfare be different in a world with teleportation technology and airstrikes capable of hitting anywhere in the world?

6. Suppose your friend invented an economical cheap version of a teleportation spell that almost anyone can use. They wish to publish this spell to the world. Do you support them or disagree? Do you think humanity will use it for more good or evil?

7. Suppose the only legal means to learn magic in this world is through a military academy — after which you are required to enlist in the mage corps. Would you still learn magic?

 

Me as part of military high level and sanctioning airstrikes? Talk about flights of fancy!

 

Now this is quite oddly specific.