Legal and Just Use of Armed Force: An Analysis of United States Involvement in Panama and Iraq

Abstract

Americans desire to use armed force in actions that are both legal and just. If the Weinberger Doctrine is used as a guide for the employment of military forces, most would believe the employment to be just. It is quite possible, however, that the employment would not be legal under the rules of international law. An analysis of the United States involvement in Panama and in Iraq reveals convincing evidence that our military actions violated international law. A stronger case is made that the actions were legal. Military planners must be knowledgeable and considerate of both the just and legal aspects of planned military options that they present to the National Command Authority. International law, Just war, Iraq, Panama, Legitimate force, Armed force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 17, 1994
Accession Number
ADA283494

Entities

People

  • Brian J. Rabe

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Agreements
  • Crime
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Governments
  • Gulfs
  • International Conflicts
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Military Operations
  • National Politics
  • Persian Gulf
  • Treaties
  • United Nations
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Criminal Law
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.