Errors and Misconceptions in the 2015 DOD Law of War Manual
42 Pages Posted: 10 Jan 2016 Last revised: 14 Jun 2017
Date Written: February 10, 2016
Abstract
This article focuses primarily on several egregious errors and manifest misconceptions contained in portions of Part I of the 2015 Department of Defense Law of War Manual. These generally relate to the unavoidable duty of all members of the Executive branch, including members of the armed forces, to faithfully execute the law; the relationship between the law of war and other forms of international law applicable during armed conflict; applicability and the reach of human rights law during armed conflict; and the nature, reach, and content of customary international law. Also addressed are certain other errors and concerns with respect to statements in other parts of the Manual.
Keywords: armed conflict, bound, CAT, combatant, compensation, customary law, DOD Manual, dum-dum, expanding bullet, human right, IAC, ICCPR, jus cogens, Kosovo, law of war, lex specialis, military necessity, NIAC, Paquete, persistent objector, UN Charter, unnecessary suffering, war, war crime
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation