Knowing that Dresden was a 'cultural' city with little military value. The trains were up and running 3 weeks after the bombings. The war was nearly over, the city was double in capacity from refugees fleeing the Red Army and the War's end was not in doubt by Feb 1945...it ended in May of that year.  Approx. 35,000 civilians were killed in the firestorm created by the 8th Air Force and Bomber Command, 14,000 homes destroyed, 72 schools, 22 hospitals, 19 churches, etc. 15 sq kms totally destroyed.  It didn't compare to the Nazi crimes against humanity but was is a war crime?
123666
The bombing of Dresden was a war crime, not because there were civilians or because it had little military value. It was a war crime because the German government had declared it an "open city." This, under the rule of war determined in the Hague in I believe 1912 means that Germany would take no actions to defend the city or to use it for supplying the war effort (would not fly fighter planes over it, would not set up anti-aircraft guns, would not build supplies, would not route arms trains through its rail yards, would not station active troops there, etc), and in return the Allies would agree not to attack it. In fact, the British commander who had organized the attack was fired and under investigation within 24 hours after the attack.\n\nIt has been contended that the purpose of the attack was to break the last spirit of resistance of the German military or to cause an uprising against the German government to stop the war, much like the modern idea of "shock and awe."\n\nHiroshima and Nagasaki were not open cities, and as such the attack on them was not a war crime. Hiroshima and Nagasaki had been intentionally spared earlier bombing not because they had little importance (they both were used for production of war materials, etc), but because in 1942 when the decision was made to build the atomic bombs and deploy them against Japan it was decided they needed to be used against a target in pristine condition. If dropped on Tokyo, which was already a smoking ruin, no one would have known anything had happened.
55694
I won't attack.  I've opened my mind.  The motive, Martial Law.  This "attack" didn't happen exactly as it was supposed to, due to crossed signals.  Had that third plane hit the Capitol, George W. Bush would have had the rhyme and reason to declare martial law and have all of his "citizens" live in a police state.  Also, all of the footage from that horrible event shows people standing in the holes of the building, begging to be rescued.  Now, if this jet fuel was hot enough to melt steel and bring the towers down, how did people's human flesh survive long enough for them to plead that their lives be saved?  They were standing in Ground Zero, right were the planes hit.  How is it possible they didn't just burn up?  I'm sure I'll be attacked for my views, but I'm also sure I will be attacked by people who have never opened themselves up to the other side, who actually have no knowledge of the events themselves.
596359
Absolutely!\n\nChemical or biological attacks on major Western cities comes to mind.  If a biological attack on Paris killed 5 million people, should we sit and think about it?\n\nAs far as WWII is concerned, the war had to be ended, and Japan had to surrender.  The decision was taken to drop the bombs rather than risk an invasion of Japan will a million or more US casualties.\n\nWar is a very nasty business.  This is one of the mistakes we are making now.  In war, lots of people must be killed in order for the leaders (bin Laden, for example) to decide that it is time to stop murdering women and children.\n\nIf we make war to clean, then there is no motivation to stop it.
4353
for the USA the war lasted about five years. from 1941 to 1945.\n\nFor Europe and the Pacific countries the war lasted almost 7 years. from 1939 to 1945.\n\nIm not sure when war was offically declared, but Hitler started invading countries in 1939. that was also the year he began persecuting the jews.\n\nI know for sure that the war ended in 1945.
567945
Untrue.  The WMDs were mostly shell warheads and could be fired at any time because the propellent charge is not a part of the warhead in larger shells.  Degraded is relative.  Instead of one shell killing 1500 people - about what happened with the Kurds - it might only kill 500.  However, the Kurds were more dispersed than NYC, for example.  These shells could kill millions of people - still, and for decades to come.   What's really scary is reports that most of the more valuable WMDs were sent to Syria and form there to the Sudan.
357323
In world war 2 Germany had already conqured most of Europe and showed no signs of stopping. If we had not saved their rears the map might look totally different now. Even if they stopped to secure Europe and recoup once finished with Europe (the smart thing to do) it was feared and likely they would push into the Americas, as I think they would have. Thus, we had to stop them or be conqured. Holocaust plays no role as it was not public knowledge until after. \n\nAlso, Pearl Harbour was a direct attack by another nations military. We were at war, like it or not. Japan also invaded Alaska and was dug in on land, something that you don't hear much about. Japan was allied with Germany although Germany told them to focus on Russia and meet in Moscow. Why a relatively tiny island would attack the US when it wasn't finished with China is absurd. WWII made us what we are and perhaps we didn't have the rep we have now and they thought they could frighten us. \n\nTerrorists are not attempting to invade or occupy America and do not come from any particular country. The goals of terrorists are uncertain at best. \n\nAlso Viet Nam changed things and created a more sensitive culture. We got to see war first hand in full color unedited by military journalists. Nam was the first war where civilian journalists were brought along and at the time everyone was excited to be on TV. The journalists went where they pleased and hopped on any chopper that had room. The blood and guts went straight to your living room at the independent news producers discretion at 5:30 each evening as famalies sat around and watched during diner. A mistake that the military will not repeat. The civilian media today is lead by the hand 'for thier own protection.' Nam also gave rise to the peace and love culture. In other ways it is a much different world today. \n(I can stop here but... some other thoughts)\n\nSometimes it seems like the terrorists just want us to leave the middle east alone. I'm curious as to what you think or are told that the terrorists agenda is. Yes they want to terrorize and kill Americans but what for. In Ireland the terrorists wanted independence from Britain, lack the ability for a military victory so, they hope to scare them into a concession. The definition of terrorist is one that attacks civillian targets in order to pressure a govt into something. What do the muslim terrorists want (not that we should give it or accept it)? Death to the infidels? Bombs every five years won't kill us all. There is a political motivation for these high profile bombings. Don't support Israel is an obvious one. Many in Iraq just want to drive us out of Iraq (seems fair). \n\nIraq seems more like a gurilla war than terrorists as well. Civillians may be harmed but the intended targets are usually military, local police, and the coalition govt. All of which are legitimate military targets so it's not terrorism. Trying to frighten us by bombings is not a good thing but not an imminent threat either. Protecting our home from terrorists is a job for police, FBI and CIA not soldiers in the middle east. I find it hard to even think of the war on terror as a war at all. It theoretically includes all terrorists not just muslim ones. They occupy no territory and don't have much unity. Remember Timothy McVay was a solo terrorist. Also certain militant Nazi groups in the mid west are classified as terrorists. \n\nThe mid east has fought for a long time and even if Iraq is stabilized our actions have not made us many friends there. Thus does not lessen terrorism but increases the number those who wish to do us harm. Although I'm just now starting to think the plan was to fix Iraq and show them how nice it can be and other nations may want it. Iraq was chosen because it's easiest and nobody really liked Saddam anyway, even there. If that's the plan it doesn't seem to be working.\n\nSomeone mentions 9/11 and Iraq. The t
241879
Hitler had the numbers (whether he pulled the trigger, gas chamber door, bombs...) to be the worst in the last couple hundred years.  I don't believe in hell, but I might make an exception for that sorry piece of sh*t.
583667
No. This is war, my friend. Lives, whether innocent or guilty, are sadly but truly lost. \n\nTake 9/11 for example, 3000 people who weren't even thinking of a war with terrorists, yet lost their lives in tragic flames.\n\nIt saddens me to hear that innocent Iraqis are killed in this War on Terror; but this is the price of war. It wasn't meant to be perfect.\n\nIn addition, how are we, as Americans, some of the only people who are willing to respond to a GLOBAL threat, take a chance of not firing our weapons? \n\nAs a U.S. citizen, we have to a stand SOMEWHERE, regardless if our own troops or our enemy's citizens die as well.\n\nAlso look at WW2. If the U.S. hadn't used the atomic bomb, dont you think there would have been a different outcome? This is what frustrated Truman; should they NOT use the bomb to save innocent lives? Or use it to end the war that had brought total destruction to the world?
610281
Have you taught them about Kurdish kids BEFORE this war? Is there some Hitlerish plan to incinerate Iraqi children that we haven't heard of? Keep things in context, and remember that this has been a SHORT war with amazingly few casualties, most of which are inflicted BY IRAQIS!!!!!!\nNo comparison to Nazi genocide is possible.
638568
I wouldn't call it a war for no reason - there were some very unpleasant episodes of 'ethnic cleansing' there, not a million miles removed from the crimes of the holocaust. Also various sections of the community actually requested UN help in their desperation (unlike Iraq where the US/UK/Aus etc just stormed in uninvited).\n\nBut it is terrible to have people you care about miles from home. I hope everyone involved in peacekeeping duties returns home safely soon.
350822
Estimated 200,000 Mujahideen insurgents. But Russia basically used scorched earth tactics campaign destroying villages, houses, crops, and livestock. It was basically an attempt at genocide. Poison gas, poisoning village wells, Russian-made PFM-1, (one of the so-called "toy-mines") made to attract children. There are mine fields still marked off today. If you fly into BAF go by the old hospital. It has barracades around the minefield. The estimated loss of civilian life is just over a million dead, wounded and permantely maimed. With 80,000 to 100,000 on the ground at any one time they only were able to control a maximum of 20% of the countryside. \nThey lost:\n118 jet aircrafts \n333 helicopters \n147 main battle tanks \n1,314 IFV/APCs \n433 artillery and mortars \n1,138 radio sets and command vehicles \n510 engineering vehicles \n11,369 trucks and petrol tankers \n\nMany of those are hulks you can still see around as monuments to Russian's failed goal.
289258
kutekymme,, what is the previous record.  Do you mean the 30k+ civilians that Saddam GASSED to death?  Or do you mean the civilians that are housing the enemy soldiers who are shooting from the rooftops of their homes?\n\nAlso, What war has the lowest number of soldiers killed in it?\nI'll give you a hint, Iraq.
564592
Go tell the Russians about astronomical death tolls of soldiers.  Do you realize how many soldiers died in WWII?  Probably not or you wouldn't ask this question.  Our soldiers are not treated worse than criminals either.  I'm sure that many of them did not plan on going to war, but they all knew the risks just like I did.  Why didn't you mean to offend anyone?  There is no constitutionally guaranteed right to not be offended.  Offend all you want.
246887
they wont be i'm sure.  if thats the case lets punish those who killed the 38059 other civilians lost.  its ridiculous because its just part of war.  people need to get a grip its not new news its been happening since 2003, and accidents and cofusion happens.  heard of ptsd????
67533
Assuming your perspective just based on your question alone I'm guessing you have little knowledge about the 1998 cruise missile attack on the El-Shifa pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, Sudan.  Since that plant produced the majority of the medicines which fought malaria, tuberculosis, and other countless curable diseases in Sudan, the missile strike led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Sudanese.  I'd say that was indeed a crime against humanity, wouldn't you?
618086
250,000 Iraqis have been murdered by the barbaric American troops since the 2003 invasion. Most of them are civilians, women and children. Therefore by the Bush administrations own 'standards' you have committed genocide. I don't know about you but I do not like to be partially responsible for such war crimes, whether 250,000 deaths is genocide or not, it is an unforgivable crime. As citizens in a "democratic, freedom loving" country you should take some responsibility for the actions of your elected barbaric governments.
235859
Personally, I noticed that they burned a Chinese restaurant, looted their own peoples businesses, set fire to police boxes and were brought under control by their own police. As I have said so many times before people tend to forget, like with the Afghans during the Russian occupation and with "Kirun". Speaking of "Kirun", the next time that England, or France, or all of Europe needs to be saved from occupation and extermination, as in WW1 and WW2, don't call on us, call on Iraq, Iran, North Korea,Vietnam, China, or oh my, Afghanistan. I'm sure that they will rush right over to lay their lives on the line for your countries.