Defined: War Crimes
They say “all’s fair in love and war” – but is it? Is there a point at which war crosses the line? Is that even possible when you’re already shooting to kill?
According to the Rome Statute, there is. Even amid wartime, there are certain acts that are considered so deplorable that they are grounds for an indictment. Even in war, there are rules – rules on whom can be attacked and when, rules governing the recognition of surrender, and rules dictating the humane treatment of prisoners of war.
The exact boundaries between what makes something a crime of war or a crime against humanity are blurry. This is one of the greatest criticisms of the International Criminal Court. Yet a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, and war crime or crime against humanity – rape is still a crime. Much of what the indictment states is a matter of the context of the situation.
At the end of the day, the guy who can’t even wage war without breaking the rules is one of the biggest scumbags of them all.
