News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Use of Drones for Killings Risks a War Without End. Parent comment

Re:Use of Drones for Killings Risks a War Without End by bd_at_rivenhill on Thursday June 26, 2014 @09:01AM (#7949340)
"Civilian" targets can become valid military targets. For example, if an enemy force forms a line of resistance within an urban or suburban area, then it is legitimate to attack and destroy that area. A civilian area that is not occupied by an enemy force is not a legitimate target, and attacking it constitutes a war crime.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Use of Drones for Killings Risks a War Without End by pjmlp on Thursday June 26, 2014 @09:19AM (#7949441)
I always found that type of argumentation interesting, war is a crime.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Use of Drones for Killings Risks a War Without End by cmdkeen on Thursday June 26, 2014 @11:00AM (#7949961)
The Law of Armed Conflict exists because you can't stop war from happening, especially if you aren't willing to fight a war yourself to stop it.

It's also worth pointing out that war/conflict are not the same thing, the definition of who is protected during a conflict is much broader than members of the armed forces during a formal war.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Use of Drones for Killings Risks a War Without End by Rusky on Thursday June 26, 2014 @12:28PM (#7950388)
Sure, but "war crime" is a phrase with a particular history and usage that means something more specific. Even opposing sides in war often agree on some boundaries.
[ Parent | on HN ]