military hypothetical law-in-fiction laws-of-war
Did Sokka commit the war crime of false flag? (ATLA S01E17)
<p>Based on Avatar The Last Airbender S01E17, Sokka is ostensibly a war criminal,  at least based on our laws. See eg <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TheLastAirbender/comments/py2u9h/irhos_not_a_war_criminal_for_being_a_general/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TheLastAirbender/comments/qr9uv0/friendly_reminder_that_sokka_is_a_war_criminal/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v2_cou_nz_rule62" rel="nofollow noreferrer">International Committee of the Red Cross - Practice Relating to Rule 62. Improper Use of Flags or Military Emblems, Insignia or Uniforms of the Adversary</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>According to custom, it is permissible for a belligerent warship to use false colours and to disguise her outward appearance in other ways in order to deceive an enemy, provided that prior to going into action the warship shows her true colours. Aircraft are not, however, enentitled to use false markings.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag#cite_ref-9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">false flag Wikipedia page</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>In land warfare, such operations are generally deemed acceptable under certain circumstances, such as to deceive enemies, provided the deception is not perfidious and that all such deceptions are discarded before opening fire upon the enemy. Similarly, in naval warfare such a deception is considered permissible, provided the false flag is lowered and the true flag raised before engaging in battle.</p>
</blockquote>
<h1>What happened:</h1>
<p>Sokka a member of the water nation defended against an attack by the fire nation. During such defense, Sokka was in a hot air balloon that had the fire nation insignia. Sokka did not change to water nation flag or anything before counter-attacking.</p>
<h1>Question:</h1>
<p>Did Sokka commit the war crime of false flag, assuming our laws applied? Or did Sokka commit some other war crime for such actions?</p>

<p>No.</p>
<p>Assuming both the Fire Nation and Water Tribes are signatories to the Geneva conventions, the rules only apply to uniformed members of the signatory member nations.  Such as the water tribes have uniformed members, Sokka is not (at least not at this time, as its shown that Southern Water Tribe warriors use black and white face paint when in battle and Sokka does don this paint prior to going into key battles.  Additionally, the Mechanist is more likely the &quot;pilot&quot; of the balloon and has no uniform that ties him to any Nation's military.  Additionally, neither is acting under apparent orders from a higher ranking member of a foreign military.  All involved look to be refugees and travelers trying to keep away from the military and would be subject to the Fire Nation Criminal Justice System</p>
<p>(In the Fire Nation Criminal Justice System, the people are represented by two separate but equal entities:  The military, who capture enemies of the Fire Lord, and the Crematorium who prosecutes them.  These are their stories <em>DOING DOING</em>).</p>
