Rule of Law: It's Not Just for Judge Advocates Anymore
Abstract
"I wasn't in the Taliban but I am now," stated Payanda Muhammed, a prisoner in Afghanistan, to a journalist. Muhammed was imprisoned for allegedly bombing a sugar factory, which killed 72 civilians. Muhammed is one of several prisoners interviewed, who claims his innocence, but who has turned away from Afghanistan's corrupt justice system to the Taliban -- a likely result when rule of law fails in a post-conflict society. The rule of law (ROL), is at the foundation of recovery and stabilization efforts. Its existence, or lack thereof, in those countries subject to strife, at risk for strife, or where the United States has ceased combat operations, can dictate the military's deployment or its extension. The successful achievement of ROL can dictate the military's departure. ROL is such an integral component of current stability operations, that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) must adequately train and educate its members to successfully accomplish ROL. ROL as part of a professional military education (PME) curricula is important for three reasons. First, ROL is inherent to stability operations and as such is part of the current mission as dictated by Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 3000.05 (DoDD), "Military Support for Stability, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction (SSTR) Operations." Second, a successful ROL effort is one that is an interagency one and that is integrated into the planning process. Third, the DoDD requires PME in stability operations, and as ROL is a subset of stability operations, it should also be required in PME.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 20, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA510290
Entities
People
- Claire M. Amdahl
Organizations
- Marine Corps University