The Geneva Conventions - would you adhere to them in time of war?

[Loki]

Scenario: you are a soldier in a war. Would you adhere to the Geneva Conventions, as much as possible?

Let us look especially at the Third and Fouth conventions:

Third Geneva Convention

This convention is about the treatment of prisoners of war. One snippet:
Articles 13 to 16 state that prisoners of war must be treated humanely without any adverse discrimination and that their medical needs must be met.


Fourth Geneva Convention

This convention is about the treatment of civilians in time of war. An excerpt:

Article 3 states that even where there is not a conflict of international character the parties must as a minimum adhere to minimal protections described as: noncombatants, members of armed forces who have laid down their arms, and combatants who are hors de combat (out of the fight) due to wounds, detention, or any other cause shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, with the following prohibitions:

(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) taking of hostages;
(c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment
(d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.

[Loki]

It follows on from this thread about actions toward civilians in times of war:

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...enemy-civilian

It was directed at Balkanoids only, so I thought I'd make a wider general thread and hear what people have to say

Surprisingly in the above thread there were voices who disregarded the Geneva Conventions. I wonder if this sentiment is more widespread, or what. Let us hear

[SILNI]

Do Nato army respect "geneva"?
If not , what is the point?
The strongest kid in the playground do not respect rules of the game.
Why is important what the "weak" (us) believe then?

[Pontios]

Depends on who it is. If it is a child or women, I would take care of them and make sure they don't get hurt, even if they are the enemy, but if its a man who is physically able to fight, probably not, because he attacked me, in his eyes I am an enemy.

[Loki]

Depends on who it is. If it is a child or women, I would take care of them and make sure they don't get hurt, even if they are the enemy, but if its a man who is physically able to fight, probably not, because he attacked me, in his eyes I am an enemy.

Then you would not adhere to the Geneva Conventions like most civilized men would. Thanks for your answer.

[Loki]

Do Nato army respect "geneva"?
If not , what is the point?
The strongest kid in the playground do not respect rules of the game.
Why is important what the "weak" (us) believe then?

Stop talking about others and speak for yourself. NATO/others have to account for their own crimes.

[SILNI]

Well I believe most obligated to answer are super powers.
US army and such , they do not respect it but even have a law that NO-court can judge american soldier no matter what he do apart US court.

Now let alone serbs , we all know there are evil and deserve to be killed.
What about all that thausands of muslims Nato killed all over middle east , and keep countinue with it.
No "Geneva" there.

I don't believe anybody respect "geneva" , especialy not Nato (which sets the rule for world military)
So will some small army in africa respect it or not , realy have no meaning while Europe do not respect it what SO EVER.

[SILNI]

Stop talking about others and speak for yourself. NATO/others have to account for their own crimes.

You said I quote

like most civilized men would.

you wrong there
Nato alliance is formed from "civilizated' contries , yes?
They do not respect it so , civilization part is also debatable let alone geneva

[Smaug]

Yes, I would, we are all human after all and even in war times we must keep our sense of honour and humanity. I (and most of us I assume) lost relatives in both WWI and WWII because of some bastards who liked to kill civilians.

[Loki]

Well I believe most obligated to answer are super powers.
US army and such , they do not respect it but even have a law that NO-court can judge american soldier no matter what he do apart US court.

Now let alone serbs , we all know there are evil and deserve to be killed.
What about all that thausands of muslims Nato killed all over middle east , and keep countinue with it.
No "Geneva" there.

I don't believe anybody respect "geneva" , especialy not Nato (which sets the rule for world military)
So will some small army in africa respect it or not , realy have no meaning while Europe do not respect it what SO EVER.

It sounds to me like you're trying to justify your own viewpoints, by looking at bad examples of others and highlighting them. Am I wrong?