Introduction

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

Introduction

Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which the United States and her coalition part-

ners conducted military operations for the express purpose of removing

Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, implicated ahost of international law issues,

in both theorv and practice. Many of those issues are still being debated today,

more than 3years later. Was Operation Iraqi Freedom undertaken consistent with

international norms on the use of force? Are tarsetins: norms, as traditionally un-

derstood, adequate in the age of precision strategic strike capability and/or against

an enemy who intentionally fails to distinguish himself from civilians? Or who

purposefully uses protected places from which to launch attacks? Or who pur-

posely attacks protected persons, places and objects? How do States reconcile com-

peting views of what the law of war is, or requires, or forbids, in dealing with

captured foes? Discussing and debating these questions, and others raised by char-

acteristics of the conflict with "rogue" nations and international terrorists, was the

purpose of the colloquium that this book. Volume 80 of the International Law

Studies ("Blue Book" Iseries, memorializes.

In June, 2003, the Naval War College conducted asymposium entitled Current

Issues in International Law and Military Operations. The colloquium, organized by

the International Law Departments Commander Don Rose, US Coast Guard, was

made possible with the support of the Strategic Studies Institute of the United

States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks; the Israel Yearbook on Human

Rights, Tel Aviv, Israel; the United States Coast Guard Academy; the Francis Lieber

Society of the .American Society of International Law; the Judge Advocate General

of the Navy; the Naval War College Foundation; and the Pell Center for Interna-

tional Relations and Public Policy of Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Is-

land. Without the support and assistance of these organizations, the colloquium

would not have been the success that it was. Their support is greatly appreciated.

Two members oi the International Law Department served as primary editors

of this volume. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Friend, JA, L*S Army, initially performed

editorial work on this volume until the exigencies of war intruded and he was