Law of Armed Conflict

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Law of Armed Conflict
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Based on Two Series of Treaties

• The Hague Conventions
• Series of meetings called by Czar Nicholas II
• Focus was type of weapons / means of use
• Last one cancelled by WWI outbreak
• The Geneva Conventions
• Following WWII
• Focus was humanitarian issues (POWs, civilians,
  wounded/sick, etc.)

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Fundamental Principles

• MILITARY NECESSITY
• Only those acts of war which will likely produce
  some military advantage
• HUMANITY
• May not cause more harm, pain, destruction of
  enemy than is necessary to defeat it
• CHIVALRY
• Dishonorable means or conduct is forbidden

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Specific Rules for Conduct of Hostilities

• Examples of Prohibited Weapons
• Lances with barbed heads
• Glass-filled projectiles
• Poison/poison gas
• Dumb-dumb bullets
• Refusal of Quarter
• Use of treachery

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Specific Rules (contd)

• Noncombatants
• Rights of occupying army
• Right to govern
• Can change the penal law for security of its
  forces
• Can punish acts of espionage, sabotage, and
  guerrilla activity

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Specific Rules (contd)

• POWs
• Must be provided free food, clothing, shelter,
  and medical care
• Medical personnel chaplains must be released
  (unless they are needed to minister to their
  fellow prisoners
• May be forced to do agricultural and domestic
  (as long as they dont serve a military purpose)

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Specific Rules (contd)

• Noncombatants
• Temporary Custody - If holding them temporarily
  for military purposes, they must be treated
  humanely
• If accidentally injured - excusable if in the
  course of destroying a military target (if risk
  of injury is proportional to the military
  advantage)

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Enforcement of Laws of Armed Conflict

• Public Opinion - Censure
• Diplomatic Action
• Economic Sanctions / Reparations
• Reprisal
• Reciprocity
• Criminal Liability

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SCENARIOS

• What Would You Do
• If You Were In The
• Following Situations?

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As a future Air Force officer, you must exercise
strong moral, ethical, and legal behavior.