Mercenaries

[dannyday5821]

So, is it true that mercenaries are exempt from the usual rules of engagement and laws of war in comparison to a national army? If so, why is this? I don't understand why?

[Zeuhl]

mercenaries usually operate in conflicts where 'rules' are not prominent for anyone

the only mercenary i've ever known worked in Africa in the 80s and based on his account, nobody was applying 'rules of engagement' or 'laws of war' to put it mildly

[baza]

they are not part of a state military force as such but a private army, normal rules do not apply.

[Answerprancer]

One thing is for sure with mercenaries, they are voluntary ie. they are effectively 'hired soldiers' whereas normal soldiers are tricked into it by governmental illusions of heroism and "glory". (IMO)

[Zeuhl]

/the only mercenary i've ever known worked in Africa in the 70s not the 80s Doh

as baz says, they aren't part of a national force which means they in turn risk summary execution if captured and they have a code among themselves

I forget who the bloke i knew had upset but his house in Surrey had no bedroom doors; a clear line of sight for the gun under his bed and a couple of Dobermans on the landing

[Buenchico]

See paragraph 2 here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_combatant

It must be remembered that 'the usual rules of engagement' didn't/don't apply to many forms of conflict. For example, during the WWII, Japan was not a signatory to the Geneva Convention, the Viet Cong didn't subscribe to such conventions and both sides in Syria certainly don't.

Even when nations sign up to conventions upon the treatment of their enemies, they frequently try to circumvent them, For example (until Obama reversed the policies) the USA got around the UN ban on the use of torture by simply redefining 'torture' to exclude both waterboarding and sleep deprivation (which just happened to be the USA's preferred methods of torture).

[anujmath121]

hey are not part of a state military force as such but a private army, normal rules do not apply.