The Rules of war ALL Soldiers MUST OBEY
TLDRThe video script delves into the complex subject of war crimes, focusing on the intentional targeting of medics and the evolution of rules and customs of war throughout history. It discusses the aristocratic traditions of the 18th century, which influenced the treatment of enemy officers, and the establishment of formal treaties like the Hague and Geneva Conventions to protect non-combatants, including medics. The narrative highlights instances where these conventions were violated, such as by SS units in World War II and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific theater. The summary also touches on the broader scope of international law regarding the protection of civilians, infrastructure, and the prohibition of certain weapons and tactics that cause unnecessary suffering. It underscores the ongoing challenge of adhering to these laws in the face of the brutal realities of warfare and the need for continuous evolution of these rules to mitigate the suffering and damage caused by conflicts.
Takeaways
- 🚑 **Medical Personnel Protection**: The Geneva Convention and other treaties protect medical personnel on the battlefield, prohibiting their deliberate targeting and treating them as non-combatants.
- 🏛️ **Civilian Infrastructure**: International law prohibits attacks on civilian structures such as schools, hospitals, and museums unless they are used for military purposes.
- 📜 **Historical Treaties**: The rules of war have evolved through centuries, with formal treaties like the Hague and Geneva Conventions setting standards for conduct during warfare.
- 🎖️ **Military vs. Non-Combatants**: Soldiers are allowed to target only those in uniform capable of fighting, while those who cannot resist, like prisoners or the wounded, are considered non-combatants.
- 🚫 **War Crimes**: Acts such as perfidy, using human shields, and torture are considered war crimes and are strictly prohibited under international law.
- 🚫 **Banned Weapons**: Certain weapons that cause unnecessary suffering, like chemical and biological agents, expanding bullets, and landmines, are banned from use in warfare.
- 🔞 **Child Soldiers**: The use of children in any capacity of warfare is banned by multiple treaties, with varying age limits set for combatants.
- 🌐 **Global Compliance**: While many nations adhere to the rules set by international treaties, some do not recognize or follow these guidelines, leading to war crimes and atrocities.
- 🔄 **Dynamic Laws**: As warfare evolves, so do the laws governing it. The international community must continuously update and reinterpret these laws to protect non-combatants and limit suffering.
- ⛔️ **Landmines Controversy**: Landmines are controversial due to their indiscriminate nature and long-lasting effects on civilians even after conflicts end.
- 🏳️🌈 **Special Symbols**: The Red Cross on a white background is a symbol used to denote medical personnel and facilities, which should be respected and protected under the law.
Q & A
What was considered barbaric and to be avoided during the American Revolution in terms of targeting officers?
-The deliberate shooting of officers was considered barbaric and to be avoided during the American Revolution.
How did the Sharpshooters under Daniel Morgan's command contribute to the Battle of Saratoga in 1777?
-The Sharpshooters under Daniel Morgan's command used highly accurate long-range rifles to pick specific targets, including officers and artillerymen, which played a decisive role in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.
What are the two major treaties that govern the conduct of soldiers on the battlefield?
-The two major treaties that govern the conduct of soldiers on the battlefield are the Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention.
What is considered a war crime under the Geneva Convention?
-Any deliberate attack on a medic or medical person, or any unnecessary hindrance in the performance of their duties is considered a war crime under the Geneva Convention.
Why were medics often targeted during World War II on the Eastern Front?
-On the Eastern Front during World War II, medics were often targeted because the Soviet Union did not sign the Geneva Convention, and Nazi ideology held the Soviets, including medics, in utter contempt.
How did the treatment of medics differ between the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II?
-On the Western Front, the non-combatant status of medics was generally respected, whereas on the Eastern Front, medics were treated like any other soldier and were eliminated without hesitation.
What was the primary reason for targeting medics in the Pacific Theater during World War II, according to Desmond Doss?
-According to Desmond Doss, the primary reason for targeting medics in the Pacific Theater was to harm American morale, as eliminating medics would leave wounded soldiers without immediate aid.
What is the key principle of the laws of war in attempting to mitigate suffering and minimize damage?
-The key principle of the laws of war is to designate who is off limits for military operations, such as civilians and non-combatants, to mitigate suffering and minimize damage.
What are some examples of public buildings that are off limits for attack under international law?
-Examples of public buildings off limits for attack include schools, hospitals, museums, religious buildings, historic sites, and monuments.
What is the general rule regarding the targeting of individuals in uniform capable of participating in fighting?
-The general rule is that only those in uniform capable of participating in the fighting are allowed to be targeted, while those incapable of resistance are considered non-combatants.
What are some actions strictly prohibited by international law in warfare?
-Some prohibited actions include hostage-taking, use of human shields, killing of hostages, torture, deliberate killing of prisoners, intentionally starving prisoners or others under a military's care, and the use of starvation as a weapon against civilian populations.
Why are certain types of weapons banned in warfare?
-Certain types of weapons are banned in warfare because they are designed to cause unnecessary misery, distress, or are inhumane in their method of killing, such as chemical weapons, biological agents, landmines, and expanding bullets.
Outlines
🏥 The Treatment of Medics in War: A Historical Overview
This paragraph discusses the historical treatment of medics in warfare, highlighting the evolution of social conventions and international laws that have sought to protect medical personnel on the battlefield. It covers the aristocratic officer class's 'gentlemanly' conduct in the 18th century, the American Revolution's sharpshooters, and the Battle of Saratoga. It also touches on the formalization of these protections in treaties like the Hague and Geneva Conventions, the special status of medics, and the exceptions to these rules during WWII, particularly on the Eastern and Pacific fronts.
🌐 International Law and the Protection of Non-Combatants
The second paragraph delves into the respect for medics on the Western Front during WWII and the contrasting situation on the Eastern Front, where the Soviet Union did not sign the Geneva Convention, leading to different treatment of medical staff. It also addresses the conduct in the Pacific Theater, where the Empire of Japan's non-ratification of the Geneva Convention led to medics being targeted. The paragraph further explains the broader rules of war concerning the designation of legitimate and illegitimate targets, including civilians and public buildings, and the importance of these rules in limiting damage and suffering during conflicts.
📜 The Liber Code and the Evolution of War Crimes
This section outlines the formal codification of war crimes, beginning with the Liber Code in 1863 and its influence on the development of international treaties. It details the various protections provided to non-combatants, including civilians, medical personnel, and clergy, and the conditions under which these individuals can lose their protected status. The paragraph also covers the prohibitions against perfidy, espionage, and the use of child soldiers, emphasizing the tragic nature of child involvement in warfare and the legal protections in place to prevent it.
🚫 Prohibited Actions and Illegal Acts in Warfare
The fourth paragraph focuses on the illegal actions that are strictly forbidden in warfare, such as hostage-taking, use of human shields, torture, and the killing of prisoners. It discusses the prohibitions against persecution based on political, ethnic, religious, or racial grounds and the specific rules concerning the use of certain weapons, including chemical and biological agents, landmines, and expanding bullets. The paragraph emphasizes the intent of international treaties to minimize suffering and bloodshed, especially among non-combatants.
💣 Banned Weapons in Warfare
This paragraph provides an in-depth look at the various weapons that are banned from use in warfare due to their indiscriminate nature or the unnecessary suffering they cause. It includes a discussion on landmines, lasers intended to cause blindness, expanding and exploding bullets, non-detectable fragments, flamethrowers, and cluster bombs. The paragraph also touches on the controversy surrounding the use of cluster munitions and the evolving nature of international law in response to changing warfare dynamics.
🌐 The Evolving Nature of International Law in Warfare
The final paragraph addresses the ongoing evolution of the laws governing the conduct of soldiers on the battlefield. It acknowledges that as the nature of war changes, so too must the laws that aim to protect those affected by conflict. The paragraph suggests that the international community will continue to update and reinterpret existing statutes to mitigate the destruction left in the wake of combat.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡War crimes
💡Medics
💡Geneva Convention
💡Non-combatants
💡International law
💡Civilians
💡Protected structures
💡Landmines
💡Chemical weapons
💡Cluster bombs
💡Human shields
Highlights
War crimes against medics are a way to alleviate some of the horrors of combat, yet social convention and international law often make them off-limits to deliberate targeting.
In the heat of battle, conventions are often ignored, and medics who should be off-limits are intentionally targeted.
Rules and customs of war date back centuries, with the 18th-century aristocracy often attempting to conduct war in a gentlemanly fashion, including the treatment of enemy officers.
During the American Revolution, sharpshooters used highly accurate rifles to target specific officers, playing a decisive role at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.
Over the years, restrictions on targets were formalized into official treaties, with the prohibition of medics and medical personnel as legitimate targets being one of the most prominent.
The Hague and Geneva Conventions govern the conduct of soldiers on the battlefield, including the protection of medical personnel and the prohibition of attacks on medics.
Medics are allowed to carry weapons for personal protection or to defend the wounded without forfeiting their status as non-combatants.
During World War II, most major powers respected the non-combatant status of medics, although there were exceptions such as certain SS units intentionally wounding enemy soldiers when medical aid arrived.
On the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union did not sign the Geneva Convention, leading to the mistreatment of both prisoners and medical staff by Nazi forces.
In the Pacific Theater, the Empire of Japan did not ratify the Geneva Convention, leading to medics being targeted and the Red Cross symbol offering little protection.
Desmond Doss, an Army medic and Medal of Honor recipient, noted the Japanese obsession for attacking medical personnel to harm American morale.
The designation of legitimate and illegitimate targets has been enforced both as a social convention and through informal treaties, despite many ignoring these restrictions for battlefield advantage.
The first formal codification of war crimes was established in 1863 with the Lieber Code, which governed the conduct of Union Soldiers during the American Civil War.
International treaties aim to minimize suffering and bloodshed, especially among non-combatants, by outlining protections for civilians, medical personnel, and limiting the use of certain weapons.
Journalists and reporters in war zones are considered civilians and afforded the same protection, provided they do not participate in actual fighting.
Clergy and those designated to tend to the spiritual needs of soldiers are given similar protection to medical personnel under international law.
Combatants must wear a uniform or some designating symbol to be considered legitimate soldiers and be granted protection under the Geneva Convention.
Spies operating in civilian clothing or enemy uniforms are not considered legitimate combatants and are not afforded protections if captured.
The use of children as soldiers is banned under multiple treaties, with various age limits set to prevent minors from participating in warfare.
Certain actions such as hostage-taking, use of human shields, torture, and genocide are strictly prohibited by international law to minimize unnecessary suffering.
Weapons designed to cause unnecessary misery or kill inhumanely, such as chemical weapons, biological agents, landmines, and expanding bullets, are banned under international law.
Flamethrowers and incendiary devices are legal with restrictions, while cluster bombs are banned by many countries due to their indiscriminate nature and risk to civilians.
Transcripts
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