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The following cases can help clarify the direct/indirect distinction.

A bomber pilot 'indirectly' kills innocent civilians in a war when he intends to hit military targets and unintentionally hits nearby civilians as well. A bomber pilot 'directly' kills innocent civilians if he intends to do so or if killing the innocent is a means to his end.

If the ultimate purpose is justified and the balance between the good achieved and the evil done indirectly is appropriate, then the indirect killing may be justified. In such cases moralists say that the action is justified by the "principle of the double effect."