Moral Dilemmas of Modern War

Asymmetric conflict is changing the way that we practise and think about war. Torture, rendition, assassination, blackmail, extortion, direct attacks on civilians, and chemical weapons are all finding their way to the battlefield despite longstanding international prohibitions. This book offers a practical guide for policy makers, military officers, students, and others who ask such questions as: Do guerillas deserve respect or long jail sentences? Are there grounds to torture guerillas for information or assassinate them on the battlefield? Is there room for nonlethal weapons to subdue militants and safeguard the lives of noncombatants? Who are noncombatants in asymmetric war? What is the status of civilians who shelter and aid guerillas? And, do guerillas have any right to attack civilians, particularly those who aid and shelter members of the stronger army? If one side can expand the scope of civilian vulnerability, then why can’t the other?A practical guide to the legal and moral aspects of the major tactics of asymmetric war that include assassination, harsh interrogation, nonlethal chemical warfare, and attacks on civilian combatantsWell suited for students, military officers, and policy makers who confront the moral dilemmas of modern warAn innovative account of the emerging norms and conventions of asymmetric war that give new and expanded meaning to the principles of unnecessary suffering, proportionality, and noncombatant immunity