RULES OF WAR

The Rules of War as defined by International Law and the Geneva Convention probably seem rather quaint to many. As though they are aimed at making war into battles among "gentlemen." Actually, many of the rules are designed primarily to protect civilians and other non-combatants. The Iraqi regime violates these rules by surrendering and then opening fire and by their likely shooting of captured Americans. Because Iraq has violated these rules of war, they cannot expect their protection. When Saddam's Republican Guard surrenders, we will have every legal right to open fire because we cannot trust a surrender. And how about civilians? They are no longer safe because Saddam has authorized his soldiers to dress as civilians. Thus, everyone our troops see on the road is a potential combatant, every white flag is a potential ambush. And when Coalition troops open fire on the white flag, or kill civilians holding weapons, Saddam and his useful idiots in Syria, Russia and France will say "See, the Americans and the British are murdering Iraqi citizens."