I'm not against building mutual defense alliances that support a peaceful society or self defense. It seems that much HARM has been delivered under the banner of many nation states. For instance the concept "collateral damage" is a rationalization to defend murder wouldn't you agree? As far as catching a clue from history, okay...how many people have died at the hands of nation states that have initiated aggression?
and many people, including children have died from snake bites
should we abandon the pretense of snakes?
when two groups do battle those who get in the way get hit. it's the same in bar brawls, gangland shootings, border disputes, and full fledged wars.
if a nation (or any group) commits itself to a proposition of peace at any cost, total nonviolence, passive resistance, or refusal to engage in violence in any instance where an innocent might be harmed that nation group or village would save themselves a lot of trouble by simply surrendering to every passing asshole with a pistol.
such a policy would assure victory to the aggressor, by the simple act of capturing one sheepherder, or a single farmer coming in to the market.
your irrational insistence on zero civilian casualties is not only unworkable, but in the end it will enslave and butcher more children at the hands of barbarians than it could ever save through refusal to fight.
you logic is flawed. aggression must be fought with violence and a promise of greater aggression in return.
you may have noticed that somali pirates are not nearly as brazen as they were before a few of them discovered that their skulls were frangible under Navy SEAL sniper fire. (for a moment i actually almost shouted Go Navy but then the moment passed)