Laws in warfare

[REL0AD]

I understand why land mines are illegal under the geneva convection but why are dum dum bullets outlawed? I mean war is war and the idea is to win, thus you have to kill the enemy. A bullet was designed and is made to kill so why outlaw a type of bullet? Is it because a dum-dum can cause un-nessersery suffering? (I'm talking about 'X'ing' the bullet in particular, not expanding bullets that are purposely manufactured.

What are your views on laws in warfare? I think they're pointless, we have terrorists who will blow themselves up or turn a plane into a missile, war is war, wouldn't you think when it comes to 'legal' killing or operations they would leave law out of it?

Also as I said before I understand why land mines are illegal as they have new versions which can detect soilders and limit civilian casualtys but a law on bullets? Come on...

[Th0r]

Argh warfare laws...

I agree REL0AD. They are pointless. In war no one listens to the rules. Did George Bush listen to international rules on warfare, pre-Iraqi invasion? No.

Does Israel listen to rules regarding warfare...?
No.

Alot of countries all over the world, still use landmines, and I believe Cluster bombs are illegal under a certain ammendment to the geneva convention...

America and Israel still use them...

Whether there are rules or not is not the point.
No one is there to enforce them...

Most major conflicts are the result of numerous parties breaking numerous international rules so what makes other people think they are going to follow rules in war...

[odin_dax]

Are there rules of warfare before war begins, thor?

Did Israel even agree to the Geneva Convention? I know the country never signed the treaty on nuclear weapons.

[nshepperd]

Isn't the idea of laws of war that to begin with all the rules are agreed upon by some countries, then if anyone breaks those rules, automatically that's a declaration of war?
Except of course it doesn't work with:
A. Countries (America?) that have an army that's so big everyone's too scared to do anything, and
B. Terrorist organizations which don't actually have anything you can declare war on or occupy.

And of course most countries are too lazy (and self-protective) to actually try to enforce the rules.

[Th0r]

Are there rules of warfare before war begins, thor?

I believe there are...
Although, saying that I am not familiar with them...

[Axxess of Evil]

You wanna know the funny part? Hollow points are used by police departments here in the states. If it's illegal to use them on enemy troops why the fuck is it permitted for our own civilians? I always considered being shot to be pretty inhumane no matter what they're shooting you with.

[Th0r]

A stray hollow point against an inoncent by stander...

I hear lawsuits...

[Axxess of Evil]

A stray hollow point against an inoncent by stander...

I hear lawsuits...

I'm pretty sure any stray bullet would lead to a lawsuit.

[Th0r]

I'm pretty sure any stray bullet would lead to a lawsuit.

Well over here in the UK the cops have shot several inoncent people dead. And that was deliberate. They werent bystanders. And I dont believe any of the families have successfully sued the Metropolitan Police.

[davey_crockshit]

i believe it is illegal to use tear gas on enemy troops too. police departments use loads of the stuff.

unless there is someone willing to and capable of enforcing them, laws are worthless. if there are war crimes trials, it usually means one side lost badly and wasnt in a position to negotiate a decent treaty with the victors. if you notice these laws are almost always applied only to those on the losing side of a conflict.

still and all, things used to be worse. killing all the men, raping all the women, and enslaving all the children used to be standard procedure.

if the people we are fighting in this current war are not entitled to any protections, as our leaders assert, why havent they broken out the hollow points? not to give them ideas or anything, but i have wondered that.......

[Useless_Info]

Honestly I think that the Geneva Convention is just there for show to satisfy the Human Rights activists. What they don't seem to understand is that when your receiving incoming fire all of the laws and politics associated with why you are there disappear. All you care about in that moment is killing the enemy and doing it in the quickest, most efficient way possible.