[D.o.w.n.l.o.a.d] (Epub) Human Rights and War Through
Civilian Eyes
By Thomas W. Smith
International lawyers and ethicists have long judged wars from the
perspective of the state and its actions, developing international
humanitarian law by asking such questions as "Are the belligerents
justified in entering the conflict?" and "How should they conduct
themselves during the war's execution?" and "When civilian
noncombatants are harmed, who is responsible for their suffering?"
Human Rights and War Through Civilian Eyes reimagines the ethics of war
from the standpoint of its collateral victims, focusing on the effects of
war on individuals--on those who are terrorized, or killed, or whose lives
are violently disrupted. Upholding a human rights analysis of war, Thomas
W. Smith conveys vividly the depth of human loss and the narrowing of
everyday life brought about by armed conflict.Through riveting case
studies of the Iraq War and the recent Gaza conflicts, Smith shows how
even combatants who profess to follow the laws of war often engage in
appalling violence and
