Is attacking another country before a deadline is up a war crime?

Question

If you give a country a deadline, but then attack and try to assasinate their leaders BEFORE the deadline expires, is that a war crime?

For those who remember.....
"Shock and Awe" was launched hours before the deadline expired. The main purpose was to "decapitate" Iraqs leadership.

Answer 1

Definition
War crimes are defined in the statute that established the International Criminal Court, which includes:

Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, such as:
Willful killing, or causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health
Torture or inhumane treatment
Unlawful wanton destruction or appropriation of property
Forcing a prisoner of war to serve in the forces of a hostile power
Depriving a prisoner of war of a fair trial
Unlawful deportation, confinement or transfer
Taking hostages
The following acts as part of an international conflict:
Directing attacks against civilians
Directing attacks against humanitarian workers or UN peacekeepers
Killing a surrendered combatant
Misusing a flag of truce
Settlement of occupied territory
Deportation of inhabitants of occupied territory
Using poison weapons
Using civilian shields
Using child soldiers
The following acts as part of a non-international conflict:
Murder, cruel or degrading treatment and torture
Directing attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers or UN peacekeepers
Taking hostages
Summary execution
Pillage
Rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution or forced pregnancy

However the court only has jurisdiction over these crimes where they are "part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes"

Answer 2

It's a blatant violation of international law to attack and invade another nation. Assassination of leaders is an act of War, not a war crime. Governments are legitimate military targets in wars.

Answer 3

A "war crime" is only attributed to the loser, never the victor.

Edit: This is a valid statement. TD morons. In the example of the Nurenberg trials, it was the victors that put the losers on trial, not the other way around. In the example of the Geneva Convention, you will note that Rumsfeld defied the Geneva Convention and got away with it. You don't see him being convicted of war crimes.

Answer 4

Trying to assassinate a national leader is a violation of international law whether or not war is involved.

Unless of course he is the national leader of your own country then it is just treason.

Answer 5

An answer to this question can be found by a brief study of the Nuremberg trials.

Answer 6

Rhetorical Question

Answer 7

If your refering to Iraq. Saddam had plenty of dead lines. He finally got his last DEAD LINE, at the end of a rope.

Answer 8

We didn't do that if that's what you're trying to say.