Ethics and the Military Profession. A Dialogue on the Law of War. Degrees of Responsibility and the Law of War. Book Reviews,
Abstract
If ever you feel a perverse need to provoke a heated debate among military personnel, try generating a discussion about the law of war. All soldiers know that the Law of Land Warfare is a formal legal code; that adherence is not a matter of personal preference; and that violations are punishable offenses. But is the law appropriate? Is it effective? Some who would describe themselves as 'realists' maintain that combat is not an activity that lends itself to regulation and that we are being hypocritical when we profess to be guided by legal constraints. Others feel that, while the goal of limiting the suffering and destruction of war is noble, the circumstances, particularly of modern war, make application and enforcement of the laws of war impossible. What case can be made in support of such laws? Since the issue is one that lends itself naturally to debate, the dialogue format introduced in the January, 1980 edition of Ethics and the Military Profession is employed again here. The characters, Victor, Justin, and Henry-David, represent, we believe, attitudes about the law of war that are genuinely popular in the Army. Their fictitious discussion is intended to give the subject as reasonably thorough airing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA100987
Entities
People
- James L. Narel
- Joel D. Miller
- Michael W. Taylor
- Roger A. Rains
Organizations
- United States Military Academy