The news is full of stories of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the horrible civilian toll. But the statistics tell a different story. In two weeks of fighting the Washington Post reports that 752 civilians have been killed. That doesn’t sound like a murderous killing machine indiscriminately bombing civilians. But we have a narrative that has to demonize the enemy.

Yes, Putin has made a terrible mistake attacking Ukraine and it is killing lots of people. But it appears to me from the numbers that he has ordered his generals not to indiscriminately kill civilians. Maybe this could be his way out?