Is torture a war crime

Answer 1

Torture is recognized as a war crime by international convention, when perpetrated on any foreign civilian or prisoner or war.

There are two difficulties with this law.

One is that it is often ignored in open war, where the basic object is to kill or capture the enemy, and get whatever information is possible while doing so. Whether acts in war are "illegal" or "inhumane" is often unclear (as with the atomic or conventional bombing of cities in World War II).

The second is that the definition of "torture" is anything that adversely affects a captive or detainee, which can range from psychological and physical discomfort to actual injury or death. Under this vague definition, nothing the slightest bit uncomfortable could be done to any prisoner or suspect (which at the very least is unrealistic).