.50BMG Against Geneva Convention?

[carebear]

It's the ejected pilots you're supposed to let hit the ground before shooting. Gentlemanly and all...

 

[Tory]

Depends

It's the ejected pilots you're supposed to let hit the ground before shooting. Gentlemanly and all..

I believe that is dependent upon whether said airman is over HOME or HOSTILE territory. IF the former, he retains combatant status; if not, he is deemed a non-combatant/imminent prisoner.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Guess what else I heard while I was on Active duty. You couldn't shoot at a paratrooper while he was floating down strapped to a parachute. BS! He still is a combatant and as a combatant I certainly would have engaged with a .50 cal.

Your post seems awfuly confrontational, yet I'm not sure towards whom it is directed. My posts clearly said "descending paratroopers are examples of point targets."

As carebear said above, you can shoot paratroopers to your heart's content. parachutists (aircrew from a disabled aircraft) on the other hand are off limits until they hit the ground and have a chance to surrender.

From http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/law/low-workbook.pdf:
Parachutists. FM 27-10 para. 30. Paratroopers are presumed to be on a military mission and therefore may be targeted. Parachutists who are crewmen of a disabled aircraft are presumed to be out of combat and may not be targeted unless it's apparent they are engaged on a hostile mission. Parachutists, according to GP I, Article 42, "shall be given the opportunity to surrender before being made the object of attack" and are clearly treated differently from paratroopers.

 

[carebear]

Jorg,

He wasn't arguing, just pointing out another Law of War mis-stated in training.

Don't be so jumpy, not every post is an argument waiting to happen.

 

[carebear]

I believe that is dependent upon whether said airman is over HOME or HOSTILE territory. IF the former, he retains combatant status; if not, he is deemed a non-combatant/imminent prisoner.

Can you allow for possible drift? If he seems to be drifting toward friendly lines, or they're to windward or something. Can I shoot him then, just in case?

 

[torpid]

So how do the folks who say "the .50 is against the convention" explain the videos circulating of helicopter chain guns being used (unbelievably effectively) against individual insurgents?

 

[Fosbery]

I know .50 is perfectly legal and I'm not arguing it is but just because something is done by the military does not mean it is legal. US personnel abused prisoners in Iraq, dosn't make it legal. Sadam Hussein used chemical weapons against Iran, dosn't make it legal.

 

[Art Eatman]

Arrgggh!!!

It's settled that Ma Deuce is legal. Been settled since way too many posts ago. Anything to the contrary is BS, okay?

Enuf! Sheesh!

Art