Foreword

• Author: James P. Wisecup
• Position: Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, President, Naval War College
• Pages: xvii-xviii

Foreword

The historic International Law Studies ("Blue Book") series was initiated by

the Naval War College in 1901 to publish essays, treaties and articles that

contribute to the broader understanding of international law. This, the eighty-seventh

volume of the "Blue Book" series, is acompilation of scholarly papers and remarks

derived from the proceedings of aconference hosted at the Naval War College

on June 22-24, 2010 entitled "International Law and the Changing Character

of War."

The June 2010 International Law Conference participants examined the inter-

national law challenges presented by the changing character of war. The objectives

of the conference were to catalogue the extent to which existing international law

governs these changing aspects of warfare and to assess whether these develop-

ments warrant revision of existing international law. Five panels of presenters ad-

dressed topics that spanned the entire spectrum of armed conflict and focused on

several emerging legal issues. Specifically, the panelists undertook an examination

of the legal issues associated with the use of force in cyberspace, the civilianization

of war fighting and the concept of "direct participation in hostilities," the use of

unmanned systems, lawfare in asymmetrical conflicts, and legal issues associated

with the investigation and enforcement of violations of the law in asymmetrical

conflicts.

Renowned international academics and legal advisers, both military and civil-

ian, representing military, diplomatic, and non-governmental and academic insti-

tutions from the global community contributed to the conference and this volume.

Readers and researchers will find within this volume adetailed study of the emerg-

ing international law challenges to be had as the character of war evolves, as well as

their potential impact on the ongoing development of international law, the law of

armed conflict and military operations.

The conference and the "Blue Book" were made possible with generous support

from the Naval War College Foundation, the University of Texas School of Law

and the Israel Yearbook on Human Rights. The International Law Department of

the Center for Naval Warfare Studies, Naval War College cosponsored the event

with the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and the Lieber Society on the

Law of Armed Conflict, American Society of International Law.

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

Commandant of the Marine Corps, Iextend our thanks and gratitude to all the