Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know

Rating:
Summary: Read entire book before reviewing.
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: Read entire book before reviewing.
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: Best War/War Crimes Book Available
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Crimes of the World
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: An Extraordinary Guide
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Crimes of War
Review: This is an exceptional book for anyone to own whether it be student, Professors or anyone interested in learning about international affairs and events that help shape our nation and foreign policy. Reiff and Guttman include excellent pictures and summaries of events that have shaped our past, present and future. This should be a must read book for those interested in international law and those people interested in the formation of the Rome Treaty for an International Criminal Court. There is also a web site that complements the book. Reiff and Guttman have done an excellant job of informing the public on aspects of the "Crimes of War."

Rating:
Summary: The lesson in truth
Review: 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.