It took two months to figure this out?

Gee thanks, Amnesty International, for finding the time to accuse the instigators of the latest unpleasantness in Lebanon of “crimes against humanity”. They were right quick to accuse Israel of the same thing, but hey, they’re a democracy trying to fight a terrorist organization so they MUST be amoral monsters, right?

I’d like for AI to explain to me why they take two months to determine that the indiscriminate targeting of exclusively civilian targets in Israel by Hezbollah is contrary to the Laws of Armed Conflict and any number of other things. As for the LOAC, I quote from the official Canadian source (available on the net)


403. DISTINCTION PRINCIPLE
1. To ensure respect for and protection of the civilian population and civilian objects, commanders shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives.
AP l Arts 48, 51, 52 & 57; AP II Arts 13

404. BASIC RULE
1. Military operations shall be directed only against legitimate targets. Military operations directed against such targets must also meet the requirement of proportionality discussed below.
AP l Art 48, 51 (5) (b) & 57 (2) (a)

SECTION 2 - LEGITIMATE TARGETS

405. SCOPE
1. This section defines “legitimate targets” and provides examples of objects and personnel that are legitimate targets.

406. DEFINITION OF LEGITIMATE TARGETS
1. “Legitimate targets” include combatants, unlawful combatants and military objectives.
AP I Arts 43 (2), 46, 47, 51 (3) & 52 (2)

2. “Military objectives” are objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offer a definite military advantage. A specific area of land may constitute a military objective.
AP l Art 52 (2)

407. EXAMPLES OF OBJECTS WHICH ARE MILITARY OBJECTIVES
1. The following are generally accepted as being military objectives:
a. military bases, warehouses, petroleum storage areas, ports and airfields; and
b. military aircraft, weapons, ammunition, buildings and objects that provide administrative and
logistical support for military operations.

2. Civilian vessels, aircraft, vehicles and buildings are military objectives if they contain combatants, military equipment or supplies.
AP l Art 52 (2)

3. The following objects, depending on the circumstances, may constitute military objectives:
a. transportation systems for military supplies;
b. transportation centres where lines of communication converge;
c. rail yards;
d. industrial installations producing material for armed forces;
e. conventional power plants; and
f. fuel dumps.


You will note from this (internationally accepted) definition, Israel targeting Hezbollah’s rocket launch positions is at all times legal, and no sort of a crime under international law, regardless of the presence of civilians. The REAL “crime against humanity” is the use of these civilians as human shields by Hezbollah, but I don’t see Amnesty or any other “rights” group saying anything about that.

Good work guys; keep on keeping the world safe from the right of democracies to defend themselves against terrorists.