# What are war crimes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 17, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088 "2003-03-17T20:47:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088/1 "2003-03-17T20:47:06Z")

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There has been mention in some threads about Bush and his administration possibly committing war crimes if they invade Iraq. What is the governing law and body setting out war crimes? Is it legal in invade another country, provided that you are not committing genocide or some other similar assault on the civilian population?

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088/2 "2003-03-17T21:04:57Z")

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[http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/book.html](http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/book.html)

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**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088/3 "2003-03-17T21:18:28Z")

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Thanks…interesting link.

Is there anyone that has actually read the information in these links and has an answer to the questions my first post? I’d preferably like to avoid hours of reading and searching for those answers.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088/4 "2003-03-17T21:30:15Z")

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Look under “Aggression.” It’s very debatable because it hinges on whether the US is acting in self-defense, or out of economic interests. Are we protecting our people against attacks, or do we just want to control the oil?

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**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-war-crimes/162088/5 "2003-03-17T22:05:51Z")

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First, think of ordinary crimes. Killing, vandalism, arson, etc.

Next, think of “legal war actions.” Killing the enemy, blowing up his munitions factories, setting fire to his cities.

Well, war crimes are those crimes which are left…

The biggie is deliberately killing unarmed people, whether non-combattants or soldiers who have surrendered. Then there are things like looting, rape, trading in contraband (i.e., picking up the enemy’s dropped weapons, and then selling them on the local black market.)

Targetting errors are _not_ war crimes, by the way…

Trinopus