[DrNick]

Originally posted by Tactitus
Killing civilians is not, in itself, a war crime. If one soldier shoots at another soldier and misses, and kills a civilian, that's an accident--not a war crime. If a soldier kills a civilian who's threatening him, that's self-defense--not a war crime. Conversely, deliberately using civilians as shields for military forces may be a war crime, even if no civilians are killed.

The assertion that thermobaric weapons are a violation of the geneva conventions (1977 protocol) is tenuous, at best.

well said