Terrorism and Fear of Death
 15 June 2014.                                                                                                                       By Abi Giwa

   Some Iraq soldiers reportedly turned their back, when the militants entered the country. President Noura Maliki then charged an act of conspiracy. But today, photographs which authenticity is yet to be confirmed surfaced - of Iraq soldiers lined up for execution by invading militants. News reports say that if the information is true, about 1700 Iraq soldier may have been killed by militants. 

   The development brings to the fore the new dimension in militant warfare different to conventional warfare and the fear of death capable of making soldiers urinate in their pants on hearing the approach of militants, because whether a soldier fight or raises his hand in surrender, death is certain.

    Whereas in conventional warfare a soldier can be certain of capture and life spared if surrendered in a difficult situation. Moreover the Geneva war convention frowns on torturing or killing a soldier on surrender in a conventional war, unlike summary killings that characterize militant warfare and making soldiering more difficult than ever. It raises a question whether a soldier who has signed to fight and defend his country can be blamed for abandoning the battle in combat with militants. 

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