The Nuremberg Fallacy

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Available for the first time in paperback, this work examines the shortcomings of the Nuremberg "rules of war" and the War Crimes Tribunal's unrealistic expectations. In 1946, the Tribunal declared aggressive war, war crimes, and crimes against humanity illegal. However, the post-World War II era has seen an unprecedented number of armed conflicts. Recent crises in Rwanda, Bosnia, and the Middle East highlight the ongoing relevance of these issues. The author continues his investigations from a previous study by focusing on five significant conflicts since World War II: the Suez crisis of 1956, Algeria's war of independence, Israel's ongoing battles with Arab neighbors, wars in Southeast Asia, and the Soviet suppression of Czechoslovakia and Eastern Europe. By exploring these conflicts, the author charts the interactions between large and small states, individual nations and the United Nations, and the contrast between Nuremberg's rules and older self-interest principles. The study reveals that the Nuremberg rules—such as respecting truces and humane treatment of prisoners—have become nearly irrelevant in modern guerrilla warfare. Davidson suggests conditions may have worsened since the Tribunal, emphasizing that a nation's survival cannot rely on simplistic doctrines. Ultimately, wisdom for survival must come from human resources, regardless of advancements in weaponry.