Introduction

• Author: Dennis Mandsager
• Position: Professor of Law & Chairman, International Law Department
• Pages: xix-xxi

Introduction

OnMarch 20, 2003, after ayear of very dramatic public discourse concern-

ing the appropriate response to Iraq's continuing violation of its interna-

tional obligations under numerous UN Security Council resolutions, the United

States, together with the United Kingdom and acoalition of "willing" partners, in-

cluding Australia, Denmark and Poland, launched Operation Iraqi Freedom

(OIF). OIF commenced the military operations intended to eliminate Saddam

Hussein's regime and the specter of his use of weapons of mass destruction. From

OIF's inception, and continuing through the next six years of military operations

spanning invasion, occupation and restoration of Iraqi sovereignty, the meaning,

application and viability of the law of armed conflict were repeatedly tested.

Following its tradition of the in-depth study and teaching on the manner in

which the law impacts military operations, the Naval War College hosted aconfer-

ence entitled "The War in Iraq: ALegal Analysis." The conference was envisioned

as acompanion colloquium to the Experts Workshop hosted by the Naval War

College the previous June entitled "The War in Afghanistan: ALegal Analysis." By

the time of the June 2009 conference, events in Iraq had sufficiently progressed to

begin developing an objective assessment of what had transpired. The conference

brought together distinguished international law scholars and practitioners to ex-

amine international and operational law issues that arose throughout the various

phases of the Iraq conflict.

Judge Raid Juhi al-Saedi, the former chief investigative judge for the Iraqi High

Tribunal, opened the conference by sharing his experiences with the trial of

Saddam Hussein, as well as the current status of the Iraqi judiciary. The speakers

presented their material over the next two and ahalf days in five thematic panels.

On the first day, attendees were privileged to attend aluncheon address delivered

by Major General Michael Oates, US Army, on the "commander's perspective"

of military operations in Iraq. Professor Yoram Dinstein provided conference-

concluding remarks in which he reflected on the influence the conflict in Iraq

would have on the future development of the international law of armed conflict.

The presenters remained in Newport for an additional day after the general con-

ference to attend an experts' working group to clarify the overall conference

themes and focus in on their respective scholarly contributions.

This edition of the International Law Studies ("Blue Book") series encapsulates

the incredibly thoughtful insights and lessons learned that each presenter brought