Laws of war Articles

Detention Nation

George W. Bush’s policies toward terror detainees were perhaps some of his most jaw-dropping. Barack Obama came to office promising to change course. So far, he has done little. It remains to be seen whether the president can—or wants to—develop a

Geneva 2.0

Both sides of the debate over the Geneva Conventions have it wrong. It’s unrealistic to expect states to follow the outdated agreement to the letter. Yet America would also benefit from a code of conduct followed by all the relevant actors—even te

Family Feud: The Law in War and Peace

American law treats terrorism like an act of war, not a crime. The fact that Europeans don’t doesn’t make their way better.

A Test of Power

The Bush Administration has vastly exaggerated the dangers associated with the development of an Iranian nuclear weapons program and underestimated the deterrent capacity of U.S. military power.

Double-Red-Crossed

The International Committee of the Red Cross strains at the gnat of American unilateralism and swallows the camel of terrorist atrocities. Stop applauding.

Leashing the Dogs of War

With regard to the laws of war, the United States and Europe now operate under completely different legal codes.

After Guantanamo

Those who would recast the laws of war as international human rights norms are distorting sound precedent, and making big trouble.

The World of Achilles: Ancient Soldiers, Modern Warriors

Homer, not Woodrow Wilson, may prove to be the best source of wisdom for the 21st century.

International Crime and Punishment

The idea of an international criminal court is supported by many people and now has moved from the lobbying of lawyers and moralists to an area of practical action.

Justice and the War

When is war just?  In the American tradition, the justice or injustice of war has turned primarily upon the circumstances immediately attending the initiation of force.

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May 26, 2012