Author Description

This ringbound book provides a reproduction of Judge Advocate General Law of War Deskbook, with coverage of the history and framework of the law of war, the legal basis for the use of force, Geneva Conventions on the wounded and sick in the field, Prisoners of War, Civilians in the Battlefield, Occupation and Post-conflict governance, means and methods of warfare, war crimes and command responsibility, human rights, and comparative law. Military operations involve complex questions related to international law. This body of law provides the framework for informed operational decisions, establishes certain limitations on the scope and nature of command options, and imposes affirmative obligations related to the conduct of U.S. forces. Commanders rely on Judge Advocates to understand fundamental principles of international law, translate those principles into an operational product, and articulate the essence of the principles when required. This Law of War Deskbook is intended to replace, in a single bound volume, similar individual outlines that had been distributed as part of the Judge Advocate Officer Graduate and Basic Courses and the Operational Law of War Course. Together with the Operational Law Handbook and Law of War Documentary Supplement, these three volumes represent the range of international and operational law subjects taught to military judge advocates. Our audience is the beginning and intermediate level practitioner; our hope is that this material will provide a solid foundation upon which further study may be built.