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War Crimes

© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy

Atrocities have been committed in all wars, and sometimes in "peace" time. Sometimes the perpetrators were executed. Sometimes they got off scott free, or with a medal. In Nuremberg in 1945-46, several German leaders were found guilty of war crimes, and some were executed. There have been several Geneva Conventions which defined just what a war crime is and what a crime against humanity is. Here are some (some of these are illegal internationally, but are not considered war crimes):

• Waging aggressive war: War itself is an atrocity, and those who started it are war criminals. The United Nations has banned the first use of force.
• Genocide or extermination: The attempt to wipe out an ethnic population.
• Chemical or biological weapons: These have been banned, although some nations still have such weapons. Biological weapons are considered potentially even more devastating than nuclear weapons.
• Carpet bombing: This (essentially the destruction of entire cities) violates laws for protecting civilians. Mainly Germany, England, Russia, and the United States have done this. And countries with nuclear weapons have threatened it. Only military targets should be attacked.
• Conscripting child soldiers: It is almost universally considered illegal to conscript or enlist children under the age of 18. The U.S.A. and a few other countries have not agreed to this. The previous age limit was 15.
• Intentionally killing or mistreating noncombatants. Wounded and sick must be collected and cared for. Civilians cannot be used as shields. Journalists cannot be intentionally killed. Civilian water supplies cannot be destroyed.
• Intentionally killing or mistreating prisoners. Medical experiments cannot be done on prisoners or civilians.
• Deportation of noncombatants: This may only be done to protect them from danger.
• Collective punishment: Punishing some people for the crimes of others.
• Enslavement: Forced labor.
• Destruction of historical, cultural, religious, or educational structures and monuments.
• Attacking dams, dikes, and nuclear power plants: These may wipe out large numbers of people in the vicinity.
• Despoiling the dead.
• Detaining without trial or due process.
• Widespread damage to the environment: Such as agent orange or the Kuwaiti oil field fires.
• Torture.
• Attacks on medical facilities and personnel. The Red Cross cannot be attacked, nor can it be used as a shield or ruse.
• Blocking of humanitarian aid.
• Concentration camps: Imprisoning civilians.
• Landmines: Antipersonnel mines are too indiscriminate. The U.S.A. and other producers of landmines have not agreed to this.
• Pillage: Wanton theft or destruction of nonmilitary resources.
• Perfidy and treachery. This includes using the red cross, or flag of truce, or uniforms of the enemy as a ruse.
• Refoulment: Refugees cannot be forced to return to their country where they will be persecuted.
• Theft, rape, and murder: These and other crimes are crimes in war and in peace.

All of these crimes have been committed recently, and will be committed in the near future.

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