[pbhawkin]

Well I don't agree!
"tree hugging" pleeese!
When a country signs the Hague and Geneva conventions they agree to ALL the protocols and don't pick and choose which they will follow.
Shooting unarmed civilians in war is a warcrime. SO is shooting ANY medics who are unarmed and wearing the Redcross symbol (or the vehicle they are in).
Yes, murders still happen in war. Yes the victors write the history and often don't prosecute their own side for such events but on occassion they do as decisions have consequences that may put you in court.
You might not like it or agree but the idea of 'rules of war' is to maintain some form of civility in an otherwise barbaric event. It maintains some hope that there can be life or help and prevents the slide down the slippery slope to being barbaric which is why they were written in the first place.
Certainly all soldiers in the Australian Army (and all Western armies too) have a number of lessons on the conventions and the 'rules of war' and how it affects them. Needless to say there are a LOT of "what happens if...." questions. And a lot of disbelief but it at least makes them think. And I hope for your and my sake that they do think if put in that situation.

regards
Peter