Legalising war crimes: USA has gone too far

The US Department of Defense has released a book of instructions on the rules of war, detailing acceptable ways of killing the enemy and says that journalists also can be terrorists.

The “Department of Defense Law of War Manual” explains that shooting, exploding, bombing, stabbing, or cutting the enemy are acceptable ways of killing your enemy, but the use of poison or asphyxiating gases is not allowed.

Surprise attacks and killing retreating troops are also permitted in the Pentagon manual.

The 1,176-page book states that journalists can be labeled “unprivileged belligerents,” an obscure term that replaced “unlawful enemy combatant” that was first used during the administration of President George W. Bush.