The morality of war

[Undertoad]

It's a paradox, right? To grant children special status in war, is to guarantee they will be used in war.

[xoxoxoBruce]

It was popular in WWII according to folks I know who grew up in Poland and France. Lots of kids were couriers, spies, saboteurs, and I expect in some cases direct combatants.

I'm sure it has been going on for as long as people have been putting the smackdown on other people.

I mean against us, but you're right.

UT, yes ironic, but like 3foot said it's always happened. Wasn't that guy with the slingshot a kid?

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

It's a paradox, right? To grant children special status in war, is to guarantee they will be used in war.

Yup.

I recently saw part of an episode of a doco on Afghanistan.
The talibs had fired on a patrol from within a town. NATO moved some APCs and troops up some hills to vantage points, which of course the talibs wanted, because they had set IEDs there. Despite careful progress, there was a blast, one soldier injured.
Finally, the summit was secured, the patrol was in a position to bring fire on the talibs. The talibs realised this, and perfectly knowing the rules of engagement NATO are under, left their weapons, stood up in a way that made it clear they were unarmed, left the building, and went home in a fucking TAXI.

Any rule imposed on the troops will be exploited by the enemy. If we rule all under-eights as being by definition non-combatants, expect armed seven year olds.

IMHO it is a war crime to arm a child and send them to battle. A soldier who shoots a hostile person, regardless of age or gender, is not to blame.