Crimes of War 2.0: What the Public Should Know

Book Overview

Originally published in 1999, this A-to-Z guidebook of wartime atrocities has received worldwide acclaim and has been translated into eleven languages. Now substantially updated, with sixteen new entries, this concise guide to the broken rules of war remains unique and essential. More than 140 distinguished experts from the media, military, law, and human rights groups examine recent conflicts in light of international humanitarian law, including:...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393328465
• ISBN13: 9780393328462
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Outstanding Overview of Humanitarian Law-for the Layperson & Expert

From the moment of its publication, I was a fan of this book and have referred to it often. Somehow, this book has managed to condense a complex area of international law into a brief, highly readable, and easy to understand guide. A project of The Crimes of War Project, this book was designed to serve as a handbook for journalists and other foreign correspondents in the field who routinely cover wars and humanitarian emergencies. Relief and aid workers are usually the first "outsiders" on the scene of such upheavals. However, as the editors point out, "their training usually does not encompass trying to stop or even report on war crimes." NGOs and watch groups have expert staff, but often have limited access to "hotbed" areas and can be slow to respond. Journalists often cannot make necessary distinctions between legal and illegal acts and may not fully understand the international or legalistic import of what they are witnessing. Finally, the general public is often unable to make such distinctions as well. This book and accompanying website are an attempt to better educate journalists, consumers of news media, and other on the ground workers by providing an easy to use overview in the form of brief entries, arranged by topic of international humanitarian and human rights law, so that we can all better serve as watchdogs and advocates for human dignity and the rule of law. Both laymen and more informed readers will appreciate the quality of the entries, written by nearly 150 experts from human rights law, journalism, history, the military, and NGOs as well as the strong, graphic quality of the photographic layout by award-winning photojournalists and graphic artists that poignantly--and sometimes shockingly--illustrate human rights violations from a number of recent conflicts around the globe. Covering topics such as the distinction between internal and external conflicts in international law, the rights of refugees and soldiers, collateral damage, use of biological weapons, incitement to genocide, terrorism, treatment of the wounded, enforced prostitution, guerilla fighters, the rights of victims, and destruction of cultural property, among countless others, Crimes of War manages to cover an astonishingly wide range of topics within humanitarian law, yet remains highly readable and highly accessible to laypersons. Well worth the price, it's an excellent, easy to understand guide to the internationals treaties and covenants that govern crimes of war and should be a mainstay for anyone who needs a quick and basic overview of topics in humanitarian law and the law of war.

Read entire book before reviewing.

"Crimes of War" should be required reading during senior year of high school. Written by journalists, scholars and law experts, this book not only details the wrongs committed in recent wars, but who committed them and under what laws the perpetrators can be prosecuted. The photographs are often shocking and force the viewer to face the truths in the text, which is well written by men and women who either witnessed the atrocities or are working to bring war criminals to justice. "Crimes of War" clearly shows that there are binding laws of warfare, and those who break these laws must be held accountable for their actions. Israel is not singled out for criticism in "Crimes of War". There are two chapters under the letter A (it is arranged like an encyclopedia) and if a reader only get to the letter B they may feel Israel gets the bulk of criticism. However, the reader who reads the entire book will see Israel is fairly criticised.Also, China is not condemned for Tiananmen Square in this book because this book is about war, war crimes, genocide, and international law. Tiananmen Square - while tragic and unforgivable - was a State using lethal force against its own people in a police action. Tibet could bear mentioning, but even prior to China's invasion Tibet was a remote society, hence the lack of coverage by outsiders.The scathing reviews of this book probably say more about the "issues" within the reviewer than the contents of the book: The truth can hurt and denial is an easy trap. Scores of countries are mentioned in this book (the US being one) and it's the facts that sting here - not "agendas". In the end, "Crimes of War" succinctly and logically reinforces the point that there are no excuses for crimes against humanity.

Best War/War Crimes Book Available

Crimes of War does what few books of its kind manage to accomplish. It is a well-researched and scholarly compendium of the various crimes of war with expert background information on the various legal instruments that prohibit these acts. At the same time, however, it a visually riveting -- and often shocking -- photographic compendium of war crimes ranging from disappearances to death squads to starvation. I had the impression that, judging from its pocket-size edition, Crimes of War was published with the intention of serving as a field guide to journalists and NGO/IO staff who wish to have ready access, written in plain English, to the legal predicates that prohibit war crimes. However, after reading Crimes of War, it seemed to be more the kind of book that should be required reading material for high school, college and law students who wish to have a basic grasp either of the history of war crimes or the legal basis for their prohibition. This book is in a class all its own.

The best introduction for the general reader.

This book is the best introduction for the general reader on the important (and currently "hot") subject of war crimes -- that is, actions that violate the Geneva Conventions and the other rules of war. The book is laid out in alphabetical order, with short, punchy chapters describing different kinds of war crimes and setting forth the basic background information needed to comprehend this challenging subject. Highly useful for the general reader and as an introduction to the subject for undergraduates and law school students. Well-written and edited, handsomely presented, it deserves a place with "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Red Badge of Courage" as an introduction to these difficult issues.

An essential reference for the general public...

This work establishes a milestone for the general public in terms of awareness of war crime laws & issues, and revelation of many atrocities of this century. It has helped me understand events that have not been fully documented or, in many cases, looked over by mainstream news organizations.