Customer Reviews

Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know

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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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

This A-to-Z guidebook is absolutely amazing. Without falling into the trap of legalese (which is beyond most lay people), this book manages to teach us numerous things about the conduct of war and how difficult it is to apply the numerous chapters and laws in modern conflicts, be they international or internal.

The photographs that accompany most articles are striking; some of them are rather gruesome, but this is war, and the more suffering we see, the more likely we are to commit ourselves to not seeing this kind of inhumanity ever again. To do so, we have to put action behind political rhetoric, to give substance to our words (Vaclav Havel's motto).

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested about the law, war, man's inhumanity to man, and the legal architecture which, over decades, has been taking form to protect us from ourselves.

I don't read alot, but what I do I like to be moved, confronted and challenged in my way of thinking. And as one with little knowledge of current world events and global issues, this book seemed the one for me. Detailing the works of hundreds of writers and photographers this work forces you to consider changing the way you live, the way you feel and the things you do/don't do.

Maybe it was just me, but I feel this book should be introduced into all schools worldwide, as the only way to educate the youth of today is to force home truth. If all children get out of school is truth then the education system has served it's purpose. And the fact this has not, and will never occur is a Crime of this World!

For many history is the epitome of boredom. When I was at school I found history interesting, but I did not have any desire to cram dates and quotes in about Indochina, WWI or Soviet Russia. Though alot more challenging, I feel a more contemporary study of modern day events as much more mouth watering.

The last time I brought out this book I showed it to a friend. Immediately they felt compelled to view "every picture" before going home, but upon doing this it was decided that maybe taking the book and reading it would ease their curiousity even more. To this day I have not seen my copy!

I hope before I die I see a teeneage boy or girl caught trying to steal this book and or others like it. For then at least it would show that the world will have changed for the better!

"Crimes of War" is a unique document. It provides a brief but illuminating look into what is broadly termed "international humanitarian law" or the laws of war. Expert journalists, historians, academics, military officials, and international activists provide vivid descriptions of various violations of international law as well as other issues and case studies; for example, "forced labor," "incitement to genocide," "aggression," "Chechnya," "civil war," etc. It is organized like an encyclopedia of human tragedy, basically. The photographs that accompany the entries are powerfully evocative of the suffering they represent, as well.

The subtitle, "What the Public Should Know," is right on target. I think it is vital that all Americans be aware of the laws of war and their violations, both historical and contemporary. Reading a smart collection like this one also gives the reader considerable insight into the nature of international conflict seen as a whole.

You'll pick it up perhaps because the book cover conveys your attention, you might even lead through- though I don't recomment it. If you do, you'll be compelled to purchase this book, read every page and learn that war historians are also wonderful editors. It reads like a dictionary, feels like a wake up call. The list of writers alone is worth the purchase.

Hat's off to the editors and the contributing authors and photojournalists of Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know. For too long the laws of war have been the domain of the military and a very few lawyers. Making it avaiable to the public is an idea whose time has come.