Had It in Holland Park

It used to be that the military was the primary targeter civilians: the purpose was to demoralise the enemy population and horrify their leadership. No western military thinks this a legitimate war aim today.
  Now this tactic is restricted to uncivilised insurgents (militants, rebels, terrorists, pick your noun) who view the killing of (primarily Muslim) women and children as a good means to an end. It does tell us what things would be like were they to gain power.