Children Implementation in ISIS... Will this change the Laws of War?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 05:45:40 -0500

You have to ask yourself since the battlefield is always changing will the Laws of War see revision? Videos pushed by ISIS show training of children. but more so disturbing is the fact that service members know they may need to take the life of that child some day, and this is not the first time we have seen children implemented in training or used as troops. Current LoW will keep soldiers a little more tight on their weapons which may cause lives of our ground forces. We have a opposing force that is teaching their young to hate and loathe a multitude of the united nations. So do you feel the current LoW are adequate. (this is not to start a debate or a reflection of my personal views I just want to see where our force troops feel on this matter).

Chilling ISIS video shows gun-toting child soldiers

Some of the children shown going through their battle drills can be no more than 8 or 9-years-old

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 6:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 06:18:42 -0500

As you said it has unfortunately been required before.

There are no rules in War or Love. We must tread lightly though as this day in age of media it would definitely be publicized.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 7 at 2015 6:21 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 06:21:36 -0500

This will undoubtedly put our forces in a moral dilemma if/when they are confronted with this situation.

It brings about the importance of those "mandatory classes" covering "Law of Armed Conflict". We will always have the right to defend ourselves against an armed enemy that poses a threat to you or another service member.

We have to prepare for this threat, it is not something we can simply ignore away.

Response by PO1 Joan (Tipka) (Plummer) Fisher made Mar 7 at 2015 6:55 AM

PO1 Joan (Tipka) (Plummer) Fisher — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 06:55:07 -0500

This has been going on since Vietnam with Children throwing bombs at Americans. Nothing new just being brought to like that's all. Weapon=Combatant Unarmed=Non-Combatant People seem to forget all about Vietnam. But I believe it was war not a conflict as I was taught in school. After all My Dad fought in Vietnam. And well I believe him when he says "You never knew who was the enemy because they also used children to blow things up"

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 7 at 2015 11:16 AM

SGT Jim Z. — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 11:16:28 -0500

I agree the battlefield is ever changing and I think the Laws of War need to be revised to keep up with the changes. Laws of War will never be completely updated because technology and tactics changes daily for example, the use of children as combatants.

The Geneva Convention is a series of treaties and can only be enforced on countries that have signed the treaties therefore, ISIS is not covered by the Geneva Convention however, we the United States are and therefore we must conduct ourselves in accordance with the Geneva Convention and that is where the rules of engagements are derived. RoE as you know are a series of rules that tell you how to conduct yourself in an operation.

Remember though you as American you have the right to self-defense regardless of the age of person point the weapon or holding the trigger to a detonator.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 7 at 2015 12:10 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 12:10:46 -0500

Laws must constantly evolve to keep pace with evolving realities. That being said, I doubt if anyone (anyone sane) could kill a child and not feel remorse regardless of what the law provides. For me, it only serves to intensify my disgust with and hatred of those who put weapons in the hands of children and teach them to hate. They are, in effect, stealing childhood. They are betraying the innocence of youth. Is there any greater crime?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 11 at 2015 11:49 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 23:49:48 -0400

We still have this kind of brainwashing in America. When I was stationed at Fort Campbell, there was a farm within 10 miles of post that had "group meetings" that were illuminated by flaming crosses. Hatred and extremism is universal. That being said, I asked all my drivers in Iraq if they believed that they could run down a small child if I believed that we were being set up for an ambush. The ones that said "hell no" were thanked for their candor and I replaced them with those who said "no one is keeping me from going home." My own family was disgusted when this issue came up years later. Sorry your baby made it home alive, pop. Now ruck up, move out, and draw fire. War is hell, but it is our business.

Response by SPC Thomas Hobbs made Mar 12 at 2015 12:10 AM

SPC Thomas Hobbs — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:10:20 -0400

I was personally faced with this decision In Iraq in 2003. Luckily, I didn't have to pull the trigger, but only because the perceived threat was shown to not be a threat literally as I put my finger on the trigger (long story that I don't want to remember anymore). If I were in that position again, I would not hesitate. I hope that all military personnel feel the same, and can bring themselves to pull that trigger without hesitation, or there would be more casualties than necessary.
The current laws do not restrict a soldier from taking the life of a combatant, and ANYONE that threatens lives or military property is considered a threat, and therefore a combatant regardless of age or gender.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 12:10 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:10:22 -0400

Child soldiers are hardly a new phenomenon, and it's certainly not the first time that US armed forces have been faced with them. It just goes to show what kind of irredeemable scum we're tasked with evicting from corporeal existance.

Response by HN Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 12:51 AM

HN Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:51:13 -0400

Not trying to seem like a heartless group of killers, but.. me and my Marines were attending a cultural brief and the Government Agent teaching the class talked about the implementation of children in war. He told us they are no longer kids they are men he asked what we would do if they were pointing weapons at us and the entirety of the room roared with, "We'd shoot them with hesitation." It's easy to say that this is not a new subject and we wouldn't react any differently than before..

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Mar 12 at 2015 12:05 PM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 12:05:11 -0400

Nothing makes what adults do wrong to children right. Nothing any where in the world, we should all do all we can stop it. The Lord say's there will be an accounting. I'm sorry, but where this world is going brings tears of sadness to my eyes, anger so great that I can not see straight!

Response by SSG Rob Cline made Mar 12 at 2015 1:38 PM

SSG Rob Cline — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 13:38:07 -0400

I'm not really sure if LoW will change, but as the future battlefield develops, there should definitely be changes in the Rules of Engagement (RoE).
The taking of any life is difficult and can haunt a person forever, however as members of the Armed Forces we have to constantly remain vigilant as to the protection of ourselves and the personnel around us.

Case in point; Iraq 2004-ish. Insurgents started using children with Down's Syndrome as suicide bombers. It pulls on the heart-strings indeed, but I would rather take the shot than risk my comrades' lives or my own.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Mar 12 at 2015 6:35 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:35:15 -0400

There is nothing new about child soldiers. Their usage is alreay against the laws of warfare, and has been for a long time. If you are asking about whether soldiers are at risk for prosecution for killing an armed child, the answer is "no". If a child points a weapon at you, they are a combatant and a legal target.