You start to get into the weeds of who's a noncombatant and who isn't. In practice, for about the past seven decades the USA hasn't really recognized anyone as a noncombatant who comes within reach of our bombs: you're Vietnamese and fourteen, sweetheart? Tough shit. If you didn't want Uncle Ho to win, why weren't you in one of our nice Strategic Hamlets? But I was trying to be tactful on this solemn occasion.

cordially,