Foreword

• Author: Jacob L. Shuford
• Position: Rear Admiral, US Navy, President, Naval War College
• Pages: vii-vii

Foreword

TheInternational Law Studies "Blue Book" series was inaugurated by the Na-

val War College in 1901 as aforum for essays, treatises and articles that pro-

mote abroader understanding of international law. The eighty- fourth volume of

this historic series, International Law and Military Operations, is acompilation of

scholarly papers and remarks derived from the proceedings of aJune 2007 confer-

ence hosted by the Naval War College.

The purpose of the conference was to address three areas of interest—law of the

sea and maritime security, the law of armed conflict and coalition operations, and

the 2006 Lebanon Conflict. Participants came to Newport from twenty-five coun-

tries and included government officials, military commanders, representatives of

non-governmental organizations, esteemed international law scholars, and military

and civilian lawyers. The conference was designed to encourage aconstructive dia-

logue on these issues by examining US and international perspectives to ensure a

sensible development ofthe law, and to preserve both national and collective security

imperatives. Undoubtedly the ideas generated in this "Blue Book" volume will con-

tribute substantially to the ongoing examination of the major legal challenges ac-

companying maritime operations and armed conflict in the twenty-first century.

On behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations and the

Commandant ofthe Marine Corps, Iextend awarm thank-you to Major Michael D.

Carsten, US Marine Corps, under whose leadership this conference was organized,

and who served as the editor of this volume. Ialso wish to thank the authors for

their invaluable contributions to this work and for engendering agreater under-

standing of operational law in the maritime context and of the law of armed con-

flict generally. Thanks also to the Lieber Society of the American Society of

International Law, cosponsor of this conference. And, finally, avery special note of

gratitude goes to the Naval War College Foundation, Roger Williams School of

Law and Israel Yearbook on Human Rights, whose tremendous support made this

conference, and, particularly, this International Law Studies volume, possible.

JACOB L. SHUFORD

Rear Admiral, US Navy

President, Naval War College