Losing the Forest for the Trees: Syria, Law, and the Pragmatics of Conflict Recognition

AuthorLaurie R. Blank - Geoffrey S. Corn
PositionDirector, International Humanitarian Law Clinic, Emory University School of Law - Presidential Research Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law
!∀#∃
Vanderbilt Journal
!∀ Transnational Law
VOLUME 46 May 2013 NUMBER 3
!
!
!
!
∀#∃%&∋!()∗!+#,∗∃(!−#,!()∗!.,∗∗∃/!!
01,%23!∀243!2&5!()∗!6,2∋72(%8∃!#−!
9#&−:%8(!;∗8#∋&%(%#&!
!
!
∀#∃%&∋!()!∗+#,−<
.∋/00%∋1!2)!3/%,<<
!
!
=>0.;=9.!
!
!45!6&7#7&/,!&,!21%&#!5#6!75!8/7∋,7&#+!7/! 9∋:/;∋!#!8&</7#+!
;/;∋,7!&,!75∋!=∋<∋+/8;∋,7!/0!75∋!+#>!/0!#%;∋=!:/,0+&:7!?∀≅Α3Β)!
45∋!/,Χ/&,Χ!9%∃7#+&71! 6∋%<∋6!#6!#! %∋;&,=∋%!/0!75∋! &;8/%7#,:∋!/0!
∋∆7∋,=&,Χ!&,7∋%,#7&/,#+!5∃;#,&7#%&#,!%∋Χ∃+#7&/,!&,7/! 75∋!%∋#+;!
/0! ,/,Ε&,7∋%,#7&/,#+!#%;∋=! 5/67&+&7&∋6Φ! 5/>∋<∋%Γ! 75∋! <∋%1! :5#/6!
75/6∋!5/67&+&7&∋6!8%/=∃:∋!%∋<∋#+6!:%&7&:#+!0#∃+7!+&,∋6!&,!75∋!:∃%%∋,7!
#88%/#:5!7/!=∋7∋%;&,&,Χ! 75∋!∋∆&67∋,:∋!/0! #,!#%;∋=!:/,0+&:7)!45∋!
&,7∋%,#7&/,#+! :/;;∃,&71Η6! 1∋#%Ε+/,Χ! %∋+∃:7#,:∋! 7/! :5#%#:7∋%&Ι∋!
75∋! 6&7∃#7&/,! &,! 21%&#! #6! #,! #%;∋=! :/,0+&:7! 5&Χ5+&Χ576! #! :+∋#%!
=&68#%&71!9∋7>∋∋,! 75∋! /9ϑ∋:7! #,=! 8∃%8/6∋! /0! 75∋! ∀≅Α3! #,=! 75∋!
&,:%∋#6&,Χ+1! 0/%;#+&67&:! &,7∋%8%∋7#7&/,! /0! 75∋! +#>Η6! 7%&ΧΧ∋%&,Χ!
8%/<&6&/,6)! Κ/:∃6&,Χ! /,! 21%&#Γ! 75&6! Α%7&:+∋! :%&7&Λ∃∋6! 75∋! /<∋%+1!
7∋:5,&:#+!#88%/#:5!7/!75∋!=∋0&,&7&/,!/0!,/,Ε&,7∋%,#7&/,#+!:/,0+&:7!
:∃%%∋,7+1!&,!</Χ∃∋Μ9#6∋=!/,!%&∋()∗+,∋&∃−.∃/0125Η6!0%#;∋>/%−!/0!
&,7∋,6&71!#,=!/%Χ#,&Ι#7&/,Μ#,=!5/>!75&6!#88%/#:5!∃,=∋%;&,∋6!
75∋! /%&Χ&,#+! /9ϑ∋:7&<∋6! /0! 3/;;/,! Α%7&:+∋! Ν! /0! 75∋! .∋,∋<#!
∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃
∃342&),&567,)&70,27089+:072,0&207;0<∃ =8272∗5∃ >:∋&?∃ ≅72−)&(2,?∃ Α∗Β∋∋8∃ ∋Χ∃
;0<.∃∆)∃<∋+81∃82Ε)∃ ,∋∃,Β07Ε∃/0&2Φ∃Γ∋Β21))7∃ ΗΙ.4.∃)ϑΚ)∗,)15∃>:∋&?∃≅72−)&(2,?∃ Α∗Β∋∋8∃
∋Χ∃;0<5∃ΛΜΝ#Ο∃Χ∋&∃Β2(∃)ϑ∗)88)7,∃&)()0&∗Β∃0((2(,07∗)∃27∃,Β)∃Κ&)Κ0&0,2∋7∃∋Χ∃,Β2(∃0&,2∗8).∃
∃33%&)(21)7,208Π)()0&Β%&Χ)((&Χ;0<5Α+,Β/)ϑ0(=88)Θ)Χ;0<.
694 vanderbilt journal of transnational law [vol. 46:693
3/,<∋,7&/,6)! 45&6! /<∋%+1! +∋Χ#+&67&:! 0/:∃6! /,! #,! ∋+∋;∋,76! 7∋67Γ!
%#75∋%! 75#,! 75∋! 7/7#+&71! /0! 75∋! :&%:∃;67#,:∋6Γ! ;∋#,6! 75#7! 75∋!
>/%+=!5#6!>&7,∋66∋=!#!%∋7%/Χ%#=∋!/0!&,7∋%,#7&/,#+!5∃;#,&7#%&#,!
∋00&:#:1Ο! 21%&#! #88∋#%6! 7/! 9∋! #! +#>+∋66! :/,0+&:7! +&−∋! 75/6∋! 75#7!
&,68&%∋=!3/;;/,! Α%7&:+∋!ΝΜ75∋!%∋Χ&;∋! ∋;8+/16!&76! 0∃++!:/;9#7!
:#8#9&+&71!7/! 65∋++! ∋,7&%∋! :&7&∋6Γ! 9+/:−! 5∃;#,&7#%&#,! #66&67#,:∋Γ!
#,=! 7#%Χ∋7! ϑ/∃%,#+&676! #,=! ;∋=&:#+! 8∋%6/,,∋+! =&%∋:7+1)! 45∋!
∀≅Α3! &6! 68∋:&0&:#++1! =∋6&Χ,∋=! 7/!#==%66!∋#:7+1!75&6!718!/0!
:/,=∃:7Γ!#,=! 1∋7! 75∋!=&6:/∃%6∋! /,! 21%&#!5&Χ5+&Χ576! 75∋! =#,Χ∋%6!
/0! #++/>&,Χ! /<∋%Ε+∋Χ#+&Ι#7&/,! 7/! /<∋%%&=∋Μ#,=! ∃,=∋%;&,∋Μ
+/Χ&:Γ!%∋6∃+7&,Χ!&,!#!=∋+∋7∋%&/∃6!&;8#:7!/,!5∃;#,!+&0∋)!
!
.=>∀?!≅+!9≅Α.?Α.0!
!6.∃∆9Ρ∃/9>∃;Σ∆∃ΤΥ∃ΣΠΓ>4∃=ΤςΥ;6=/∃Η;ΤΣ=Ο
Π>Ω≅;Σ/>Α∃ςΤςΞ6ς/>ΠςΣ/6ΤςΣ;∃ΣΠΓ>4∃
=ΤςΥ;6=/Α∃. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ∃∃ Ψ Μ #"
Σ.∃∃ 3/,7#&,&,Χ!∗%∃7#+&71∃.. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . ∃∃ ΨΜ Ψ"
Ζ.∃∃ Π5#7!(/+∋!0/%!75∋!./<∋%,;∋,7Η6!(∋68/,6∋Θ∃. . . . . . . ∃∃ Ψ Ν Ν "
66.∃/9>∃>[Τ;≅/6Τς∃ΤΥ∃ςΤςΞ6ς/>ΠςΣ/6ΤςΣ;∃
ΣΠΓ>4∃=ΤςΥ;6=/∃Π>=ΤΩς6/6Τς∃. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ∃∃ Ψ Ν ∴ "
Σ.∃∃ /0125#,=!Ρ76!Κ%#;∋>/%−∃. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ∃∃ ΨΝ ! "
Ζ.∃∃ 45∋!27%&:7!Σ+∋;∋,76!4∋67!4#−∋6!Τ/+=∃.. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . ∃∃ ΨΛ Μ"
=.∃∃ 3/,0+&:7!(∋:/Χ,&7&/,!&,!21%&#∃.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ∃ ∃ ΨΛ ] "
666.∃/Τ/Σ;6/Ρ∃ΤΥ∃/9>∃=6Π=≅ΓΑ/Σς=>Α/Τ∃Ζ>//>Π∃
Α>Π[>∃/9>∃;ΤΣ=_Α∃ΤΖΙ>=/∃Σς4∃%≅Π%ΤΑ>...................∃∃ Ψ#Ν"
Σ.∃∃ Α,#+/Χ1!7/!Υ)2)!3/,67&7∃7&/,#+!3%&;&,#+!
%&68%=,:∃.. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .∃∃ Ψ# Λ"
Ζ.∃∃ Υ,=∋%67#,=&,Χ!Ρ,7∋,6&71!#,=!≅%Χ#,&Ι#7&/,!!
!#6!#!Κ%#;>/%∃.. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .∃∃ Ψ# "
6[.∃=Τς=;≅46ςΩ∃/9Τ≅Ω9/Α∃. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ∃ ∃ Ψ ∴ ] "
!
,!#!>#%!Ι/,Γ!6/;!9&+=&,Χ6!#%!/9<&/6!7#%Χ76Μ:/;;#,=!
:∋,7∋%6Γ! >∋#8/,6! =∋8/76Γ! ∋,∋;1! 5&=∋/∃76Μ#,=! 6/;∋! #%∋! ,/7Γ! +&−∋!
6:5//+6Γ!5/68&7#+6Γ!;∋=&#!:∋,7∋%6)!∗∃7!&,! 75∋!9#77+∋!0/%!21%&#Γ!>5∋%∋!%∃+∋6!
/0!>#%! =/!,/7! #88+1!#,=! >5∋%∋! :&<&+&#,6!#%∋! 0#:&,Χ!#! 6#<#Χ∋! ;#66#:%∋Γ!
75∋!5/∃6∋!75 #7!6∋%<∋=!#6! #!;#−∋65&07! 8%∋66!:∋,7∋%!&,! 75∋!%∋9∋+! =&67%&:7!/0!
∗#9! Α;%! &6! Χ%/∃,=! Ι∋%/)! Ω∋67%/1&,Χ! 75#7! 7#%Χ∋7! >/∃+=! Χ/! #! +/,Χ! >#1!
7/>#%=!#++/>&,Χ!75∋!%∋Χ&;∋!/0!∗ #65#%!Α66#=!7/!0+#77∋,!75∋!∋,7&%∋! ∋,:+#<∋!
>&75/∃7!75∋!>5/+∋!>/%+=!>#7:5&,Χ)!
[2−2)77)∃∆08,5∃Σ6:#8∋!0%/;!21%&#5∃/6Γ>∃6ς/_;5∃Γ0&.∃Ν∀5∃ΛΜΝΛ.∃
∃/Β)<&81Β0(<0,Β)1Χ&)&0?)0&0(%&)(21)7,Ζ0(Β0&08Ξ
Σ((01_(∃0&:)1∃Χ∋&∗)(∃ Β0−)∃):Κ8∋?)1∃ +7&)(,&027)1∃071∃∋−)&<Β)8:27Θ∃
2013] losing the forest for the trees 695
∗∋:α0,∃Κ∋<)&∃ 0Θ027(,∃ ,Β)∃ :∋(,∃ &)∗)7,∃ +Κ&2(27Θ ∃ ∋Χ∃ ,Β)∃ Σ&0α∃ ΑΚ&27Θ.Β
∆Β0,∃α)Θ07∃0(∃ ,)7(∃∋Χ∃ ,Β∋+(071(∃∋Χ∃ +70&:)1∃Κ&∋,)(,)&(∃:0&∗Β27Θ∃ 27∃
,Β)∃ Χ0∗)∃ ∋Χ∃ α+88),(∃ 071∃ 0&,288)&?∃ (Β)88(∃ Β0(∃ ,+&7)1∃ 27,∋∃ 0∃ ()):27Θ8?∃
+7)7127Θ∃ (,&+ΘΘ8)∃ α),<))7∃ ,Β)∃ &)Θ2:)_(∃ ∋ΚΚ∋7)7,(βΚ&∋,)(,)&(5∃
12((21)7,∃ 0&:?∃ +72,(5∃ 071∃ ∋,Β)&∃ Χ2ΘΒ,)&(β071∃ ,Β)∃ :282,0&?∃ Χ∋&∗)(∃
8∋?08∃ ,∋∃ ,Β)∃ &)Θ2:).Χ∃/Β)∃+70−∋210α8)∃∗∋7∗8+(2∋7∃,∋∃α)∃1&0<7∃Χ&∋:
&)Κ∋&,(∃):070,27Θ∃Χ&∋:∃Α?&20∃2(∃,Β0,∃,Β)∃Θ∋−)&7:)7,_(∃,0∗,2∗∃∋Χ∃∗Β∋2∗)∃
Β0(∃ α))7∃ ,∋∃ 2712(∗&2:270,)8?∃ 071∃ &)8)7,8)((8?∃ 0,,0∗Ε∃ )7,2&)∃ ,∋<7(5∃
−2880Θ)(5∃071∃ ∗2,2)(∃27∃ 07∃ 0,,):Κ,∃,∋∃ ,)&&∋&2χ)∃∋ΚΚ∋7)7,(∃ 071∃,Β)&)α?∃
&)Κ&)((∃,Β)∃+Κ&2(27Θ∃∋7∗)∃071∃Χ∋&∃088.∃
∃Γ0((2)Β+:07(+ΧΧ)&27Θ0((∗20,)1∃ <2,Β∃ Β)0− ?ΞΒ071)1∃
Θ∋−)&7:)7,∃ &)(Κ∋7()∃ ,∋∃ 27,)&708∃ 12((21)7,∃ ,Β&)0,(∃ 2(∃ 7∋,Β27Θ∃ 7)<δ∃
271))15∃,Β)∃ 2:0Θ)(∃∗∋:27Θ∃ Χ&∋:∃Α?&20∃ 0&)∃+7Χ∋&,+70,)8?∃ &):272(∗)7,∃
∋Χ∃:07?∃ Κ&)−2∋+(∃ ε27,)&708φ∃0&:)1∃ ∗∋7Χ82∗,(.∃ Υ&∋:∃ ,Β)∃ΑΚ072(Β∃ =2−28∃
∆0&∃ ,∋∃ Α2)&&0∃ ;)∋7)∃ ,∋∃ Π<0710∃ ,∋∃ Α+1075∃ 27,)&708∃ <0&(∃ Β0−)∃
(Β∋<∗0()1∃,Β)∃ :∋(,∃Β)27∋+(∃ 0∗,(∃ Β+:07(∃∗07∃ ∗∋::2,.∃/Β)∃ α&+,082,?∃
071∃ Β+:07∃ (+ΧΧ)&27Θ∃ 0((∋∗20,)1∃ <2,Β∃,Β)()∃ ∗∋7Χ82∗,(∃ (Κ+&&)1∃ ∋7)∃ ∋Χ∃
,Β)∃ :∋(,∃ 2:Κ∋&,07,∃ )−∋8+,2∋7(∃ 27∃ 27,)&70,2∋708∃ 80<∃ 1+&27Θ∃ ,Β)∃
,<)7,2),Β∃ ∗)7,+&?⊥∃ ,Β)∃ )ϑ,)7(2∋7∃ ∋Χ∃ 27,)&70,2∋708∃ Β+:072,0&207∃
&)Θ+80,2∋7∃27,∋∃,Β2(∃ &)08:∃∋Χ∃ (∋−)&)2Θ7∃0+,Β∋&2,?.∃Α27∗)∃ ,Β)∃01−)7,∃∋Χ∃
,Β)∃ Ν∀∴∀∃ Ω)7)−0∃ =∋7−)7,2∋7(5∃ ,Β)∃ 27,)&70,2∋708∃ ∗∋::+72,?∃ Β0(∃
(,)0128?∃)ϑΚ071)1∃ 071∃&)27Χ∋&∗)1∃,Β)∃ 0ΚΚ82∗0,2∋7∃∋Χ∃ ,Β)∃80<∃∋Χ∃ 0&:)1∃
∗∋7Χ82∗,∃ Η;ΤΣ=Ο∃ ,∋∃ (2,+0,2∋7(∃∋Χ∃ 27,)&708∃ 0&:)1∃ −2∋8)7∗)∃ ,∋∃ &)Θ+80,)∃
(,0,)∃071∃ ∋ΚΚ∋(2,2∋7∃∗∋71+∗,∃ Χ∋&∃,Β)∃ ∗8)0&∃ 071∃2:Κ)&0,2−)∃ Κ+&Κ∋()∃∋Χ∃
:2,2Θ0,27Θ∃ ,Β)∃ (+ΧΧ)&27Θ∃ 27)−2,0α8?∃ 0((∋∗20,)1∃ < 2,Β∃ ,Β)()∃ (2,+0,2∋7(5∃
)(Κ)∗2088?∃ (+ΧΧ)&27Θ∃ 27Χ82∗,)1∃ ∋7∃ 277∋∗)7,∃ ∗2−28207(∃ 071∃ ∋ΚΚ∋(2,2∋7∃
Χ∋&∗)(∃ <Β∋∃Β0−)∃ α))7∃ &)71)&)1∃ 5/%6! =∋! : /;9#7.∃/∋10?5∃2,∃2(∃(2:Κ8?
0ϑ2∋:0,2∗∃,Β0,∃ ,Β)∃;ΤΣ=∃&)Θ+80,)(∃ ,Β)∃ ∗∋71+∗,∃∋Χ∃ Β∋(,282,2)(∃ 071∃,Β)∃
Κ&∋,)∗,2∋7∃ ∋Χ∃ Κ)&(∋7(∃ 1+&27Θ∃ 088∃ 0&:)1∃ ∗∋7Χ82∗,(5∃ <Β),Β)&∃ 27,)&Ξ∃ ∋&∃
27,&0Ξ(,0,).∃∃
∃Σ(2:Κ&,07,0(,Β2(1))8Κ:)7,Β0(α))7Χ&82:2,27Θ,Β)
(+ΧΧ)&27Θ∃0((∋∗20,)1∃ <2,Β∃<0&5∃ 2,∃2(∃ )Φ+088?∃0ϑ2∋:0,2∗∃ ,Β0,∃,Β)∃ ;ΤΣ=∃
1∋)(∃7∋,∃0ΚΚ8?∃ +78)((∃0∃ (2,+0,2∋7∃&2()(∃,∋∃ ,Β)∃8)−)8∃∋Χ∃ 0&:)1∃∗∋7Χ82∗,.Ε
Σ∗∗∋&127Θ8?5∃ ,Β)∃ 27∗&)0(27Θ8?∃ &∋α+(,∃ Κ0∗Ε0Θ)∃ ∋Χ∃ 27,)&70,2∋708∃
Β+:072,0&207∃ Κ&∋,)∗,2∋7(∃ ,Β)∃ 80<∃ :0710,)(∃ 2(∃ 7∋,∃ ,&2ΘΘ)&)1∃ 2Χ∃ ,Β)∃
Χ0∗,(∃ ∋7∃ ,Β)∃ Θ&∋+71∃ 1∋∃ 7∋,∃ (+ΚΚ∋&,∃ 07∃ ∋αγ)∗,2−)5∃ Χ0∗,Ξα0()1∃
∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃∃
∃Ν.2∋∋! Χ∋,∋%#++1! Ι>Π>ΓΡ∃ Γ.Α9ΣΠ%∃ η=9Π6Α/Τ%9>Π∃ Γ.Ζ;Σς=9ΣΠ45=ΤςΩ.
Π>Α>ΣΠ=9∃ Α>Π[.5∃ Π;##∴Ψ5∃ ΣΠΓ>4∃ =ΤςΥ;6=/∃ 6ς∃ ΑΡΠ6Σ≅.Α.∃Σς46ς/>ΠςΣ/6ΤςΣ;∃
Π>Α%ΤςΑ>!ΗΛΜΝΛΟ∃Η12(∗+((27Θ∃,Β)∃α0∗ΕΘ&∋+71∃∋Χ∃,Β)∃∗∋7Χ82∗,∃+Κ∃,∋∃Ι+8?∃ΛΜΝΛΟ.∃
∃Λ.2∋∋! &=.∃ 0,∃ Ν∃ Ηε4)(Κ2,)∃ 27,)&70,2∋708∃ )ΧΧ∋&,(∃ ,∋∃ α&∋Ε)&∃ 0∃ ∗)0()ΞΧ2&)5∃ α?∃ ,Β)∃
(+::)&∃∋Χ∃ΛΜΝΛ∃Θ∋−)&7:)7,∃ 071∃∋ΚΚ∋(2,2∋7∃Χ∋& ∗)(∃Β0−)∃α))7∃)7Θ0 Θ)1∃27∃088Ξ∋+,∃ 0&:)1∃
∗∋7Χ82∗,.φΟ.∃
∃#.2∋∋!&,0%#∃7∋,)(∃ι]]∃071∃0∗∗∋:Κ07?27Θ∃,,∃Η12(+((2∃,Β)∃:∋,2−0,2∋7(∃
α)Β271∃,Β)∃27∗8+(2∋7∃∋Χ∃=∋::∋7∃Σ&,2∗8)∃#∃∋Χ∃,Β)∃Ω)7)−0∃=∋7−)7,2∋7(Ο.∃
∃∴.2∋∋! &,0%#∃7,)(∃ΝιΜ∃071∃0:Κ07?27Θ ,)ϑ,∃ Η12(∗+((27Θ∃ 0∃ &07Θ)∃ ∋Χ∃
∗∋7(21)&0,2∋7(∃27∃ 21)7,2Χ?27Θ∃,Β)∃,Β&)(Β∋81∃ ∋Χ∃0&:)1∃ ∗∋7Χ82∗,∃Χ∋&∃ ,Β)∃0ΚΚ82∗0,2∋7∃ ∋Χ∃,Β)∃
;ΤΣ=Ο.∃

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT