Children, never. Terrible things happen in war, but knowingly targeting children is just fucked up. Like that movie "Unthinkable" where he shoots the wife in the head, k thats fine and all, but then when the kids got brought into it I agreed, just let the bombs go off.
Men and women who allow their leaders to take control of such power that they can no longer control said leaders are just as much to blame as a soldier toting a rifle.
Control your leaders, or the line between civilian and solider blur. We all have our responsibilities as adults, and just because you are not active military does not make you null and void for your countries military actions.