What are the specific details of the Geneva Conventions regarding the use of lasers in war?
453672
Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV to the 1980 Convention), 13 October 1995\n\nThe rule is that you cannot use a laser for the sole purpose of causing permanent blindness in an enemy.  Lasers used for other purposes (such as weapons guidance) are allowed even if they may have an incidental effect of causing this type of injury.  (Somebody who is about to get hit by a 500 pound bomb will not be blind for very long.)
1027156
A laser (from the acronym Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is an optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. The verb to lase means "to produce coherent light" or possibly "to apply laser light to", and is a back-formation of the term laser.\n\nLaser light is typically near-monochromatic, i.e. consisting of a single wavelength or color, and emitted in a narrow beam. This is in contrast to common light sources, such as the incandescent light bulb, which emit incoherent photons in almost all directions, usually over a wide spectrum of wavelengths.\n\nLaser action is explained by the theories of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics. Many materials have been found to have the required characteristics to form the laser gain medium needed to power a laser, and these have led to the invention of many types of lasers with different characteristics suitable for different applications.\n\nThe laser was proposed as a variation of the maser principle in the late 1950s, and the first laser was demonstrated in 1960. Since that time, laser manufacturing has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and the laser has found applications in fields including science, industry, medicine, and consumer electronics.
717885
The US Army.\n\nThe Letherman Multi-tool is issue.\n\nHint: Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
837522
A guerrilla in uniform is covered by the Geneva Convention as long as he fights according to its provisions. A terrorist is a criminal- worse than any other but more importantly just the same.\n\nThe 'Them animals....' statement could easily apply to IDF, the Iraqi security forces we sponsor, Northern Alliance thugs we also sponsor, Posada Carilles, Orlando Bosch plus the other gusanos we harbor. This hypocrisy really harms us.\n\nIf you shoot a terrorist in cold blood, perhaps not caring if civilians are close by (as in Pakistan, Yemen using Predator drones) then it is not one less future terrorist. That 'average Muslim terrorist' will have around 6 relations of military age; the civilians the same number- all with a strong revenge ethic. \n\nHence more bloodshed equals more terrorists. Its hard but justice is the only way- plus admittedly some intelligent violence at the right time.
526361
The personal laser pistol/rifle seems to be a long ways off as of now. A CBS new report from 12 May 2006 gives the latest: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/20/tech/main578998.shtml\n\n"...Troops will not point and shoot lasers, because they will most likely have to react to dangers and targets moving too fast for a human response. Nor will lasers be holster-sized — the smallest to date is the size of a commercial jetliner."
781979
If we adhere to the most basic of morals, that we must apply the same standards to ourselves, that we apply to others.\nThen there is no doubt that international law should also apply to us. \nUnfortunately the USA is alone in exempting itself from international law, the world court, and virtually every understanding that the rest of the world is expected to comply with.\nThe Geneva conventions were written in an attempt to criminalize the atrocities committed leading up to, and during WW2, this was not an easy task as allied forces had themselves done some immoral things.\nTorture was of course, an obvious war crime, and it has been so since Geneva.\nUnfortunately during this extremist Bush regime, the US has done the unthinkable, not only has it tortured, and contracted out torturing or anyone who it sees fit to accuse of being a terrorist, but it has tried to change the law to avoid prosecution, and to legitimize torture in the future.\nThe USA has unparalleled economical, political, and military power so it is difficult to hold them to account if they are unwilling to cooperate, I would be surprised if the charges filed in Germany will lead to anything, but the people filing seem to be confident that the court has no excuse this time to dismiss the case.\n\nThe world would be a better place if the USA had to conform to international law, the key players in the Bush regime should be tried for war crimes.
509489
The leadership in this country should be held responsible for any atrocity's of war. They hold others responsible. I have maintained for a long time that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld should be taken to the Hague and tried for these crimes against Humanity. Just because it is the U.S. doing it does not make it right. Who would have thought we would torture prisoners of war. Not before now. The Geneva convention had a purpose and we should adhere to it whether anybody else does or not. By stooping to the level of our enemy's we have allowed them to win.
265230
dust\nDon't use a mirror to look at a laser. don't use anything to look at a laser unless you know what you are doing. not even one of those 'meeting pointers'. it could very easily damage your eye and cause blindness. don't even shine a laser at an object that is not intended to receive laser energy. you could crash a plane or hurt or kill someone else.
752621
It is the Russian Military. They have an illegal system based on systematic and routine mulilation and torture of recruits. It is called "The Rule of Grandfathers" and is administered by corporals and sergeants in charge of recruits. About a year ago there was a big scandal in Russia about one recruit who was so badly beaten he had to have his lower body amputated, complete with his genitals. He is blind in one eye, cannot speak and is paralysed down one side. This is quite frequent in the Russian military. You think we have it tough?
901942
There's quite a few laws that govern the manufacture of weapons.  The laws are quite involved.\n\nIf you are interested in starting a business in the manufacturing of weapons you will need to get a Destructive Device Permit.  These are issued by the DOJ.
128889
Here ya go!\n\nhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/laser.htm
531473
Huh?  There have been numerous international agreements that limit how wars can be waged.  The simple matter of that is war is bloody, but extremely necessary.  Get over it.  \n\nI'd suggest you read up on the "Law of Armed Conflict"  or "LOAC."
55683
He didn't lie,The invasion was based in part on foreign intelligence reports. As for the "Illeagal" war\n\n As much as people may hate the idea, but yes the war is legal under Article 1441, Acting under Chapter VII (articles 41 & 42)of the Charter of the United Nations.\n\nArticle 41: The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations.\n\n\nArticle 42\nShould the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.\n\nThese are the two articles that the United States and Britain used to enforce the existing cease fire agreement. I used the term "cease fire" because no actual peace treaty signed,and hostilities could resume at anytime. \nSource(s) \nhttp://www.un.int/usa/sres-iraq.htm...\n\nhttp://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapte...
1065861
the geneva convention applies to the enemy's UNIFORMED MILITARY personnel, terrorists aren't even in the military, much less uniformed.\n\nand if we happen to be fighting an official military, we signed the convention, but if they didn't, they can do whatevery they want. we, on the other hand, have to abide by the convention.\n\ndid you know the geneva convention says you can't shoot at an ejected pilot, but you CAN shoot a paratrooper?
590426
A beam of laser light is shined on the target either by a ground unit in the area or by the aircraft which is targeting the place you want to bomb, then when the bomb is dropped it 'sees' the reflected laser light and maneuvers towards it with great precision (usually) by manipulating small movable fins on the bomb itself which guide it towards the intended target. BOOM, it's Miller time.
308446
http://www.lasers.org.uk/laser_welding/briefhistory.htm\nhttp://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=HPID,HPID:2005-17,HPID:en&q=history+of+lasers
494741
International humanitarian law (IHL), also known as the law of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus "comprised of the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Regulations, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." [1] It defines the conduct and responsibilities of belligerent nations, neutral nations and individuals engaged in warfare, in relation to each other and to protected persons, usually meaning civilians.\n\nThe law is mandatory for nations bound by the appropriate treaties. There are also other customary unwritten rules of war, many of which were explored at the Nuremberg War Trials. By extension, they also define both the permissive rights of these powers as well as prohibitions on their conduct when dealing with irregular forces and non-signatories.