Introduction

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

Introduction

Since its founding in 1884, the US Naval War College has been committed to

the study and teaching of the law impacting military operations. As part of its

commitment, from June 20-22, 2007 the Naval War College hosted aconference

entitled International Law and Military Operations. Initiated in 1990, with aconfer-

ence addressing the targeting of enemy merchant shipping, the international law

conference series brings together international scholars and practitioners, experts

in military operations and students to examine topical legal issues. Commencing

with that inaugural colloquium, the proceedings of and papers from each succeed-

ing conference have been published as avolume of the Naval War College's inter-

nationally acclaimed International Law Studies ("Blue Book") series. This "Blue

Book" continues that practice.

The conference speakers explored several diverse, yet timely, subjects relevant

to the planning and conduct of military operations. These include maritime strat-

egy and the global legal order, the law of the sea and maritime security, the law of

armed conflict, maritime enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolu-

tions, coalition operations, and the 2006 conflict in Lebanon. This volume of the

International Law Studies series is acompilation of remarks made during the con-

ference and of articles that expand upon the thoughts articulated during the

conference.

The conference was organized by Major Michael D. Carsten, US Marine Corps,

of the International Law Department, who also served as managing editor of this

volume. The conference was cosponsored by the Lieber Society on the Law of

Armed Conflict ofthe American Society of International Law, and was made possi-

ble through the support of the Naval War College Foundation, Roger Williams

University School of Law and the Israel Yearbook on Human Rights. Without the

dedicated efforts, support and assistance of these individuals and organizations the

conference would not have taken place.

Ionce again give thanks to Professor Emeritus Jack Grunawalt and Captain

Ralph Thomas, JAGC, US Navy (Ret.), who undertook the lion's share of the edit-

ing process. Indeed, this edition marks the sixth consecutive "Blue Book" on which

they have shared editing responsibilities. Without their tireless efforts and devo-

tion to the Naval War College and to the International Law Studies series, this pub-

lication would not have been possible.