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Edwin “Ed” Catmull: My father was a Marine. He met my mother in San Francisco. And they later got married and then he went off to fight in Iwo Jima and I was born in West Virginia. But, my mother--- when my father returned, and my mother and my father came to Utah when I was 2 years old.
- Protect those who are not fighting, such as civilians, medical personnel or aid workers.
- Protect those who are no longer able to fight, like an injured soldier or a prisoner.
- Prohibit targeting civilians. Doing so is a war crime.
- Recognize the right of civilians to be protected from the dangers of war and receive the help they need. Every possible care must be taken to avoid harming them or their houses, or destroying their means of survival, such as water sources, crops, livestock, etc.
- Don’T Make It Personal
- Give Fair Warning
- Be A Good Sport
- “Honours of War”
- Nothing Below The Belt
- Turn About Is Fair Play
During the wars of 18th Century Europe, it was usual for armies to campaign in set seasons — usually from March to September. With the onset of autumn, armies would go into winter quarters and many officers would head home. Some would have to cross long distances and oftentimes travel through enemy territory. In such cases, officers would apply to ...
On May 11, 1745, the Duke of Cumberland‘s allied army engaged that of the French under Marshal de Saxe at the Battle of Fontenoy. As the coalition launched its attack against the French positions, the British 1st Foot Guards approached the enemy’s elite Gardes Françaises. Upon closing to within musket range, elegantly dressed officers from both sid...
Yes, the objective of any general is to defeat the enemy, but that doesn’t mean you should be a boor about it. It did a general’s reputation no end of good if, during a long siege he displayed some sportsmanship. During the 1758 blockade of Louisbourg, General Geoffrey Amherst called several truces with the enemy commander, Chevalier de Drucourt. W...
The honours were traditionally granted to an enemy that had put up a good fight. A vanquished force might be allowed them to march out with “drums beating and colours flying” and thence to be returned to their country their pride intact. General the Marquis de Montcalm is remembered as a chivalrous officer, who tried to bring such European sensibil...
Needless to say it was considered beyond the pale for soldiers to go about deliberately shooting down officers from a distance. It was further scandalous for a commander to sanction such tactics, which were considered tantamount to assassination. During the Saratoga campaign of 1777, the British were outraged when it was discovered that American co...
Washington was no less a stickler for niceties. He once refused to open a letter from General William Howe addressed to “George Washington Esquire” rather than “His excellency General,” considering such a pedestrian honourific a slight. At Yorktown in 1781 when a defeated General Lord Charles Cornwallis sought surrender terms, Washington replied th...
Such is war; such the commander who conducts it; such the theory which rules it. But war is no pastime; no mere passion for venturing and winning; no work of a free enthusiasm; it is a serious means for a serious object.
The laws of war prohibit direct attacks on civilian objects, like schools. They also prohibit direct attacks against hospitals and medical staff, which are specially protected under IHL.
The main purpose of international humanitarian law (IHL) is to maintain some humanity in armed conflicts, saving lives and reducing suffering. To do that, IHL regulates how wars are fought, balancing two aspects: weakening the enemy and limiting suffering. The rules of war are universal.
People also ask
What are the rules of war?
Are the rules of war universal?
Should a good theory of war describe rules of universal explanatory value?
What are the laws of war?
What happens if the rules of war are broken?
What are the strict rules on the use of the emblem?
This note demonstrates to the contrary that, in his view, a good theory of war could and should describe rules of universal explanatory (though not prescriptive) value, while the statement genius rises above the rules actually denied the utility of military theory.
