Strategic Imperatives: Economic Warfare at Sea
Abstract
The author limits discussion of his subject, Economic Warfare at Sea, to the use or threat of use military means in a maritime environment to reduce the power of an enemy during overt hostilities. Two scenarios are discussed: global, conventional war; and limited wars. Strategic imperatives for both types fo conflict are presented. Future wars and weapons are then projected in order to set the circumstances which could apply int the next decade or two. And finally, against a backdrop of the proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, the author presents some challenges for international law and for navies in coping with increasingly sophisticated conventional weapons delivered against merchantmen and their protectors by land-based aircraft and surface-to- surface missiles, as well as by all forms of naval platform. The author concludes: that the U.S. can and should comply with international law as it is currently interpreted and presented in the U.S. Navy's Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations (NWP-9); that the law of neutrality as it applies to merchantmen needs to be preserved and protected by sufficient naval force, if necessary; and that what is needed for the future is not more abundant and more restrictive law, but rather greater reliance and adherence to the principles of military necessity, proportionality and humanity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA227603
Entities
People
- Hugh F. Lynch