Introduction

• Author: Dennis L. Mandsager
• Position: Professor of Law & Chairman, International Law Department
• Pages: xi-xii

Introduction

In June 2004, the Naval War College hosted acolloquium entitled International

Law Challenges: Homeland Security and Combating Terrorism. This colloquium

was made possible with the support of the Israel Yearbook on Human Rights; the

Roger Williams University Ralph R. Papitto School of Law, Bristol, Rhode Island;

the Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict of the American Society of Inter-

national Law; the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy of Salve

Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island; and the Naval War College Founda-

tion. Without the support and assistance of these organizations, this event would

not have been the success that it was, and this volume would not be before you as it

is. I sincerely appreciate their support.

As noted in the Introduction to Volume 79 of the "Blue Book" series, the events

of9/ 11brought home to the United States that, perhaps unlike any time in the past,

the "tyranny of distance" could not be relied upon to protect its citizens from

harm. That volume, International Law and the War on Terror, contained the pro-

ceedings of acolloquium hosted by the Naval War College in June 2002.

This colloquium, held two years later, examined actions taken since then, e.g.,

the Proliferation Security Initiative, aresponse to the growing challenge posed by

the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and re-

lated materials worldwide; and measures initiated to increase the control and secu-

rity of maritime borders. Additionally, with the growing insurgency and increasing

terrorist acts in Iraq, issues of occupation law, which the United States had last ap-

plied following World War II, played aprominent role in the discussions ofthe col-

loquium participants.

Ithank the editors—Captain Thomas Sparks, US Coast Guard and Com-

mander Glenn Sulmasy, US Coast Guard—for their substantial efforts in the pub-

lication of this volume. Ialso would like to recognize two long-time supporters of

the Naval War College and the International Law Department, whom they credit

with completing "the lion's share ofthe substantive editing ofthis volume": Profes-

sor Emeritus Jack Grunawalt and Captain Ralph Thomas, JAGC, US Navy (Ret.).

Without question, their dedication, conscientiousness, and perseverance were

principally responsible for the production of this volume. Additionally, Ithank the

conference coordinator, Commander Glenn Sulmasy, US Coast Guard, for his su-

perb efforts in organizing the event.