4-8. Special operations commanders and subordinate leaders are legally and morally responsible for their decisions and actions. They must work during their targeting planning process to take into consideration the civilian populace, noncombatants, friendly forces, and collateral damage when planning their operations. Special operations planners and leaders all have the legal and moral obligation to challenge a proposed mission if they believe it will violate the Law of War, Rules of Engagement, or the moral principles of the Army Ethic. Together, they must proactively plan and have the foresight to mitigate and reduce the risk of unintended effects, such as excessive collateral damage and negative psychological impacts on the civilian populace and other noncombatants—which create or reinforce instability in the area of operations. Improper planning could lead to severe consequences that adversely affect efforts to gain or maintain legitimacy and impede the attainment of both short-term and long-term goals.