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Verbal Reasoning

Set 04 - Rule of War

Humans have fought each other sińce the dawn of CMbsation They have done so over food, temtory, resources and slaves. Many devełopments in technotogy have been spurred along by the competition over weapons. While aggression may be a part of human naturę, there are many ethical issues over war, and most would regard it as a wholly undesirabie actMty Unspeakabłe things happen during wars, but fighting has usualły been subject to implkjt rules and codes of conduct. Although warfare has changed dramatjcally sińce the Geneva Conventions of 1949, they are still considered the cornerstone of contemporary International Humamtanan Law. They protect combatants who find themselves hors de combat, and they protect civilians caught up m the zonę of war. These treaties came into play for all recent intemational armed conflicts, indudng Afghanistan, the invasion of lraq, the invask>n of Chechnya and the war in Georga. The Geneva Conventions also protect those affected by non-international armed conflicts such as the Syrian civil war.

While conventions lay down rules to which the leaders of countries or armies must adhere and answer to in International courts, the notional separation of combatants and cMlians has become increasingfy difficult to make. The mass bombings undertaken by both Bntam and Germany in the Second World War were as much about intimidating the population as destroying weapons and mditary personnel. The rtse of terrorism as a modę of warfare has further muddied the water. The use of drones in difficult warzones, presented as a safe and reliabłe method of attacking soldiers or terrohsts who traveł or live in dvilian areas. has raised ethical questions for their operators.

1. The Geneva Conventlons are designed to:

O A establish the human rights of military personnel in battle.

O B protect cńnlians against all actions of their government O C protect CMlians caught up in battle areas.

O D prevent CMlians taking up arms in wartime.