The Law of Noncombatant Immunity and the Targeting of National Electric Power Systems.
Abstract
The targeting of national electric power systems by aerial bombardment or aerospace power is an integral part of a wartime campaign. Destruction or neutralization of an enemy's electric power is alleged to have far-reaching strategic and operational effects on the enemy's ability to continue the war which extend beyond a mere military impact. However, international law advocates and humanitarians argue that this form of warfare indirectly targets the civilian population because it destroys the civilian life support system and the essential elements of civilian sustenance. They view these 'reverberating effects' as excessive and in violation of the discrimination and proportionality requirements of the international law of noncombatant immunity. The military asserts the concept of military necessity is controlling, and states that the direct and concrete military benefit derived from these types of air operations outweigh the harm to noncombatants and is not excessive in law or fact. These charges were brought to the fore by the U.S.-led Coalition air operations in the Persian Gulf war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 14, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA312110
Entities
People
- J. W. Crawford Iii
Organizations
- Naval War College