Small Wars': The Legal Challenges

• Author: Kenneth Watkin
• Position: Stockton Professor, U.S. Naval War College
• Pages: 3-12

I

"Small Wars": The Legal Challenges

Kenneth Watkin*

Rear Admiral Christenson, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Let me begin by saying what apleasure it is to finally be here at the Naval War College

delivering opening remarks at the annual international law conference. Isay "finally"

because as many of you know Itook adetour, quite literally. While driving here last

June to look for accommodations, Ireceived aphone call asking if Iwould be aFor-

eign Observer on the Israeli independent commission investigating the Gaza mari-

time incident of May 31, 2010. Iaccepted and the College was very gracious in

delaying my start and, Imust say, patient in waiting for my return.

Iam not going to comment on the commission, in part because its work is still

ongoing; however, Part One of its report dealing with the blockade is available on

the commission website for those who have an interest in the law governing such

operations. 11will say, however, that if Ithought traveling to the Middle East ayear

ago would be my last connection with the Naval War College for a while Iwas com-

pletely mistaken. Perhaps it should have come as no surprise given the subject mat-

ter of the inquiry, but it seemed everywhere Iturned Ifound myself in touch with

someone or alearned publication connected to this College.

The list of former Stockton Professors was itself impressive. They included,

most obviously, Mike Schmitt and Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg, who directly as-

sisted the commission, but also inevitably reference had to be made to the

*Stockton Professor, U.S. Naval War College.