Law on the battlefield

by A. P. V. Rogers

"Explains the law relating to the conduct of hostilities and provides guidance on difficult or controversial aspects of the law. It covers who or what may legitimately be attacked and what precautions must be taken to protect civilians, cultural property or the natural environment. It deals with the responsibility of commanders and how the law is enforced. There are also chapters on internal armed conflicts and the security aspects of belligerent occupation. The author has taken the rules of the law of armed conflict, examined their historical origin and current exposition, dealt with problems of interpretation and application, and reached conclusions about how they should be applied in practice. In doing so, he bridges the gap between the legal theory propounded in academic works and the actual conduct of military operations as evidenced in military manuals or in practice. In its third edition, this book has been brought up to date in the light of recent conflicts, especially the occu