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We, the civilized powers of known Space, agree to the following basic ideal:

No nation, regardless of the situation, has the right to obliterate the population of a world, cluster, or orbital. Noncombatants need not live in fear of mindless destruction. This may be an age were a single vessel carries the firepower to level a continent, but we, the civilized powers, refuse to use this power wantonly. Both for the preservation of lives, and the presrvation of our own humanity (or whatever,) we agree to the following:

1. We reserve the right to use any weapons we please in conflict- it is not the weapon which matters, but the way in which it was used.

2. We shall not use our weapons, conventional, nuclear, antimatter, chemical, or biological for the purpose of murdering any civilians wantonly.

3. We shall evaluate situations were such weapons are used offensively against civilian populations, and ascertain whether those weapons were in fact being used for the express purpose of killing massive numbers and causing mass destruction.

4. We shall evaluate these situations through a military tribunal, appointed the the signers of this document, with members chosen from those powers neutral the the struggle being investigated.

5. We shall join together, as civilized people, to use military force against those found guilty of genocide.

Signing this document does not forbid you from using orbital bombardment- it forbids you from bombarding wantonly, with no regard for civilian life, with no purpose other than causing senseless death and destruction.

The following agree to these rules, and stand together as civilized nations unwilling to take part in the destruction of peaceful civilization.

The Free Floater Republics agree to this treaty.

obviously

The Anti-Troll Jihad does NOT recognise this treaty or any of its provisions.

We likewise decline to sign this treaty. We reserve the right to destroy populations to the last should such measures become militarily necessary. We will not do so wantonly but we reserve the right.

The Lost agree, with the provision that the unholy spawn of Stupid that is the being known as Troll be declared non-persons, and therefore legal targets.

Durandal's Empire in the interest of Humanity(or whatever) accept this treaty.

Is it considered justified to totally destroy a population along with its habitat to deprive its government of the services it provides?

No!

Habitable planets are too few. We can't let the proverbial cat out of the proverbial bag.

Seggybop wrote:Is it considered justified to totally destroy a population along with its habitat to deprive its government of the services it provides?

The Asgard finds such an act barbaric. We would not condone it.

The Kokand Empire will not sign this document. We feel this treaty may be used to restrict what may become a necessary course of action, and would be open to abuse. The standing tribunal is especially unacceptable at this time.

The Empire may however opt to sign at a later date.

4. We shall evaluate these situations through a military tribunal, appointed the the signers of this document, with members chosen from those powers neutral the the struggle being investigated.

There is no standing tribunal. The Tribunal is elected by the signers of this document, to investigate a single case, from prowers neutral ot the conflict being investigated.

If you have problems witht he treaty, post them here so we can make alterations and owrk something out which helps everyone.

We would want the treaty to ban biological weaponry, and for genocide to be clearly defined, before any possible signature by Her Serene Majesty's Government could be considered.

We regret to inform you that the Imperial Senate , and his Majesty the Emperor Herdan the 15th will require more information prior to pledging any treaty. We await your pleasure aboard HIMP Royal Birhat .

Regards,
Senior Fleet Captain Sokar

Recognizing that rebellious, subversive civilians can be as dangerous as any military foe, the UPK must decline the proposal at this time.

Thirdfain wrote: There is no standing tribunal. The Tribunal is elected by the signers of this document, to investigate a single case, from prowers neutral ot the conflict being investigated.

The Kokand Empire finds that more acceptable, though it believes that a tribunal should only be used when investigation and trial if necessary cannot be reliably conducted by an involved party.

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:We would want the treaty to ban biological weaponry, and for genocide to be clearly defined, before any possible signature by Her Serene Majesty's Government could be considered.

A ban on biological weapons is not acceptable. While the Kokand Empire does not deploy lethal biological agents, it does have a wide range of microbes that destroy material. Banning these non-lethal weapons would be foolish, and lead only to more bloodshed. Indeed some of these agents are dual use and are used for destroying industrial waste products and cleaning up after spills. Would you have us shut down our civilian programs as well, since they might be used on combat?

Of course the PIR refuses to sign such a treaty.

Sea Skimmer wrote:


A ban on biological weapons is not acceptable. While the Kokand Empire does not deploy lethal biological agents, it does have a wide range of microbes that destroy material. Banning these non-lethal weapons would be foolish, and lead only to more bloodshed. Indeed some of these agents are dual use and are used for destroying industrial waste products and cleaning up after spills. Would you have us shut down our civilian programs as well, since they might be used on combat?

The exact terms of a ban would have to be arranged, and would likely only limit biological weaponry acting against lifeforms and in a clearly weaponized form (as opposed to industrial products).

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:
The exact terms of a ban would have to be arranged, and would likely only limit biological weaponry acting against lifeforms and in a clearly weaponized form (as opposed to industrial products).

The Kokand Empire would support a ban on lethal or permanently injuring biological weapons. Beyond that, nothing certain can be said without a treaty text to examine.

The Kelia Alliance, in the interest of all that is good, wishes to sign this treaty.

The caesar and the Senate agree that one provision must be added to the treaty before the New Roman Empire will become a signatory.

1) Any nations not signing the pact will not fall under it's protection.

The PIR generall agrees with the conditions, however it reserves the right to use chemical and nuclear weapons to use when there is need, and though we will not specifically target civillians, we don't guarantee there won't be colletaral damage.

HemlockGrey wrote:The caesar and the Senate agree that one provision must be added to the treaty before the New Roman Empire will become a signatory.

1) Any nations not signing the pact will not fall under it's protection.

If such is the case then they may also not be bound by it in any way, even if they engage in actions against signatories.

The New Nation of Whats Left will not sign this treaty unless all other powers do so.

The Kokand Empire finds that more acceptable, though it believes that a tribunal should only be used when investigation and trial if necessary cannot be reliably conducted by an involved party.

It seems to the freemen, bondmen, and lovebound of the Floater Republics that an involved party can not be counted on to provide objective observation.

A ban on biological weapons is not acceptable. While the Kokand Empire does not deploy lethal biological agents, it does have a wide range of microbes that destroy material. Banning these non-lethal weapons would be foolish, and lead only to more bloodshed. Indeed some of these agents are dual use and are used for destroying industrial waste products and cleaning up after spills. Would you have us shut down our civilian programs as well, since they might be used on combat?

To the Floater Republics, it seems that the Kokand empire is correct. Only when such weapons are used to commit mass murder would this treaty come into play.

We would want the treaty to ban biological weaponry, and for genocide to be clearly defined, before any possible signature by Her Serene Majesty's Government could be considered.

the Floater stance on biological weapons has already been outlined.
As for genocide, we classify that as using weapons of any sort with intent to eradicate large portions of a planet's population. Limited strikes launched against legitimite military, industrial, and political targets would be allowed under the treaty.

edited to include this:

In response to the NRE's request that the treaty only effect signatories:

Of course! only those who signed the treaty would be bound to it's rules. This would not stop military action from being taken by the treaty's signatories against a power which decided to use genocide weapons, of course.

Thirdfain wrote:
the Floater stance on biological weapons has already been outlined.
As for genocide, we classify that as using weapons of any sort with intent to eradicate large portions of a planet's population. Limited strikes launched against legitimite military, industrial, and political targets would be allowed under the treaty.

In times of total war a civilian population is a military, industrial, and political asset to a power. It will be subject to bombardment. The Kokand Empire will continue to trust in its officer corps.

Of course! only those who signed the treaty would be bound to it's rules. This would not stop military action from being taken by the treaty's signatories against a power which decided to use genocide weapons, of course.

But would the treaty require them to do so?