Twice in his media conference on March 9, President Donald Trump called his current bombing of Iran as an “excursion”. On one occasion he qualified it by adding the adjective “little” to the word “excursion”. The Oxford dictionary gives two meanings of the word. The first is “a short trip made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people”. The second is “a short period of trying a new or different activity”. The first meaning cannot apply to the bombing unleashed on Iran. The problem with the second meaning is that Trump’s exercise is not a ‘new or different’ activity because the US had bombed Iranian nuclear sites last year. Besides, it is not known if the period of activity will really be short. It can only be hoped it will be because it is causing great distress and economic upheaval. This is apart from the loss of innocent lives because of the US and Israeli bombing and also the Iranian response. That response has resulted in the deaths of three Indian nationals too.

Trump’s use of the word ‘excursion’ for a military conflict even if no boots have been put on the ground was less than satisfactory. To associate the meaning that his present action is a short ‘trip’ for pleasure would be wrong for the US bombing was no ‘trip’ and nor could it have given any pleasure to either the decision makers nor the pilots and other service men who are taking part in it. However, the second meaning too which connotes trial is also problematic. Even a US President who is not known for choosing his words carefully and deliberately and is given to exaggeration should have not used it. The unleashing of force constitutes a terrible decision which can only be undertaken, especially by a superpower, when all avenues are exhausted. In this case the round of the US-Iran negotiations concluded on February 26 and another was scheduled for a week later. This was said by the Omani Foreign Minister, Badr Al Busaidi, who was the facilitator in these indirect talks. After the third round, where Trump’s friend Steve Whittaker and his son-in-law Jared Kushner represented the US and Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi was present on behalf of Iran, Busaidi told a US news channel, “The single most important achievement, I believe, is the agreement that Iran will never ever have nuclear material that will create a bomb”. If the Iranians had confirmed this it meant that Iran could never make a nuclear weapon. However, it would seem that the US wanted more but even then diplomacy should have been given a chance.

Now that military conflict has been ongoing it is incumbent on the three combatants to adhere to the laws of war. These are actually an expression of global civilised traditions that international armed conflict should be constrained by laws. These laws do not restrict the militaries from seeking to win wars but in doing so avoid unnecessary killing or injuring military personnel involved in war fighting. Thus, those soldiers who surrender are not to be harmed and have to be treated with care. And, no harm should be done to civilians. Indian tradition places great emphasis on both. It goes further to emphasise that war fighting should not be through an abdication of honour.

Thus, in the Mahabharata the killing of Arjuna’s young son, the brave Abhimanyu, by Kuru military leaders has been remembered as a vile act. Abhimanyu was wreaking havoc on the Kuru army and yet it was considered unworthy of the great Kuru warriors, all older and far more experienced than Abhimanyu, to have surrounded him as a group and killed him. There is also the episode which recalls the killing of Dronacharya by the Pandyas. It is recorded that Dronacharya was a great threat to the Pandav army and his killing was considered essential by them. He could not be ordinarily killed so he had to be done away with subterfuge. That was undertaken. One school of scholars believe Yudhishthira misled Dronacharya to lay down his arms and that led to his killing. Yudhishthira was the embodiment of Dharma. His chariot always moved some inches above the ground but after Dronacharya’s killing it moved on the ground. That shows that he had participated in an unworthy act.

In modern warfare there is no place for emotion and sentiment. Victory is all but in its pursuit professional soldiers do not give up decency which is the bedrock of military behaviour. Thus, if a naval vessel is sunk in combat then it is expected that even enemy survivors are rescued. This has to be undertaken by submarines too unless they are exposed to danger in doing so. And, above all every precaution is taken to avoid damage to and the death of civilians. There are credible reports that US forces bombed a girls school. More than 150 young girls were killed in that bombing. It was a cruel act. The US has not acknowledged it as yet. It is investigating it. Iran’s targeting of hydrocarbons infrastructure and shipping in the Gulf states may be part of its war strategy but it is wrong. For India this is of very deep concern, even outrage.

All sides must respect the laws of war in the present conflict.

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