Do soldiers have a 'right to life'?

[Incognito]

Yes, but that's all a bit toothless in reality. One thing I noticed on that Wiki page was the 1938 League of Nations declaration for the "Protection of Civilian Populations Against Bombing From the Air in Case of War", of which Britain was of course a founding member, but I don't recall Winston Churchill and others being prosecuted for those war crimes.

The 1907 Hague Conventions were the last treaties to be ratified before WW2. The League of Nations declaration was never ratified. The 1907 conventions only restrict attacking undefended areas. Placing Anti Air defences in an area defined it as defended.

[EternalOptimist]

It does make you think, that we've gone from being too harsh on soldiers, to being too kind. A lot of these soldiers only joined the army as it was pretty much their only real option in life, to get away, be trained, be housed, and be looked after. But the flipside is, that you get told to go to war, get told to do things that may end up killing you. I do get a bit pissed off when I hear soldiers complain about doing tours, for that's their job. One of my brothers did 3 tours to NI in the height of the troubles and came back from the third one a broken man, and is only really coming to terms with it 20 years later. Another brother resigned his commission on returning from the first gulf war, primarily from what they saw when the road to Basra was cleared.

No matter what you'll hear, most soldiers are a wee bit unstable if they've used their weapons in anger. The only ones who aren't, in my opinion, are the ones who've not seen action, for it does screw you up a little.

soldiers moan about everything. Its part of the t&c'


it's part of the oath
'I promise to God and the Queen that I will blow to bits anything they tell me to, and I will whinge and moan about absolutely everything'

and the next time anyone calls me unstable I will come around and put their rhinocerous into my bank account.

[Gibbon]

"My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori."

[Incognito]

"My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori."

Death is never glorious.

[SupremeSpod]

Wot they & that Wilfred Owen chap said.

"Don't tell 'em your name, Pike!"?

[SupremeSpod]

Or

"They don't like it up 'em, Captain Mainwaring".

RIP Clive!

[VectraMan]

You're using a single conflict to justify your argument. I'm talking about the last 100 years. Hundreds of thousands of young lads and lassies have laid their life down to ensure British values and freedoms are protected.

And I suggest you and the war-loving section of the British populace are living in the past. We've had decades of peace with our neighbours, the cold war is long over, we have many powerful allies to draw on, most notably the US, and yet it often seems we act (and spend) as if we're going to have to defend from a surprise attack from Gerry, or the only thing that's stopping Russia from annihalating our cities is that we can do the same to theirs.

I wouldn't suggest our part in past events wasn't justified, certainly not the world wars, but maybe it's time we moved on. And when you can be arrested for posting a picture of a burning poppy, the whole argument that any of it is to protect our freedoms looks rather ridiculous.

[Gibbon]

And I suggest you and the war-loving section of the British populace are living in the past. We've had decades of peace with our neighbours, the cold war is long over, we have many powerful allies to draw on, most notably the US, and yet it often seems we act (and spend) as if we're going to have to defend from a surprise attack from Gerry, or the only thing that's stopping Russia from annihalating our cities is that we can do the same to theirs.

I wouldn't suggest our part in past events wasn't justified, certainly not the world wars, but maybe it's time we moved on. And when you can be arrested for posting a picture of a burning poppy, the whole argument that any of it is to protect our freedoms looks rather ridiculous.

'Si vis pacem, para bellum'

And hopefully you never then have to go to war. The future isn't certain, at the outbreak of WW1 we (GB) hadn't been at war with our neighbours for 99 years!

[original PM]

And I suggest you and the war-loving section of the British populace are living in the past. We've had decades of peace with our neighbours, the cold war is long over, we have many powerful allies to draw on, most notably the US, and yet it often seems we act (and spend) as if we're going to have to defend from a surprise attack from Gerry, or the only thing that's stopping Russia from annihalating our cities is that we can do the same to theirs.

I wouldn't suggest our part in past events wasn't justified, certainly not the world wars, but maybe it's time we moved on. And when you can be arrested for posting a picture of a burning poppy, the whole argument that any of it is to protect our freedoms looks rather ridiculous.

A very good point - I think in general they forces are in place to protect our freedom and values.

However we also now have our own internal police who are stopping subversion from within our own borders - which is fine until they start eroding our freedom and values...

This reminds of another country -- oh yeah that was it Germany circa 1939...

[EternalOptimist]

And I suggest you and the war-loving section of the British populace are living in the past. We've had decades of peace with our neighbours, the cold war is long over, we have many powerful allies to draw on, most notably the US, and yet it often seems we act (and spend) as if we're going to have to defend from a surprise attack from Gerry, or the only thing that's stopping Russia from annihalating our cities is that we can do the same to theirs.

I wouldn't suggest our part in past events wasn't justified, certainly not the world wars, but maybe it's time we moved on. And when you can be arrested for posting a picture of a burning poppy, the whole argument that any of it is to protect our freedoms looks rather ridiculous.

I hope you are right. who wouldn't ? but history is not on your side

the thought of my kids being conscripted fills me with terror. but if they want to volunteer, and choose that life, I would back them up 100%
and the idea that we are not going to need armed forces and the use of force in the future is just laughable. in my humble opinion