and they really have gotten a heck of a lot better at reducing collateral damage - compare ww2 carpet bombing to the Iraq "Shock and Awe" campaign - the civilia

and they really have gotten a heck of a lot better at reducing collateral damage - compare ww2 carpet bombing to the Iraq "Shock and Awe" campaign - the civilian population were pretty much fine. So I agree with you that "killing people better" does "save lives" in a sense (although no war would be the preferable option of course).