Laws of War/Intro to ROE

Question 1

Define the Law of War

Answer 1

That part of war that regulates the conduct of armed hostilities

Question 2

What is the purpose of the Law of War?

Answer 2

to prevent unnecessary suffering, safeguard certain fundamental human rights of those involved in a conflict and to ultimately restore peace

Question 3

What are the principles of the law of War?

Answer 3

• military necessity
• proportionality
• avoid unnecessary suffering
• distinction

Question 4

Describe classifications of persons on the battlefield.

Answer 4

• Combatants
• Noncombatants
• Spies
• Terrorists, Insurgents, Saboteurs, Partisans
• Detainees and Enemy Prisoners of War

Question 5

What are the protected places on the battlefield?

Answer 5

• Hospitals
• Churches
• Mosques

Question 6

What are the repercussions for violating the Law of Land Warfare?

Answer 6

immeasurable, bad publicity, swaying the public opinion

Question 7

Define Rules of Engagement.

Answer 7

the directives issued by a competent military authority that delineate the circumstances and limitations under which US Forces will initiate and/or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered

Question 8

What are the purposes of ROE?

Answer 8

Political, Military, Legal

Question 9

What is a combatant?

Answer 9

Members of the armed forces, regular militia, volunteer units, guerrilla units, “Levee en Masse”

Question 10

What is a noncombatant?

Answer 10

Those who may accompany combatants but do not act in that capacity

Question 11

What are spies?

Answer 11

Those who act under false pretenses in order to obtain information and communicate that information back to a hostile or potentially hostile party.

Question 12

What is different about Terrorists, Insurgents, Saboteurs, Partisans?

Answer 12

They are not protected by the law of war

Question 13

What are the “political” purposes of ROE?

Answer 13

They ensure that national policy and objectives are reflected in the action of commanders in the field, particularly under circumstances where communication with higher authority is not possible

Question 14

What are the “military” purposes of ROE?

Answer 14

ROE provide parameters within which the commander must operate in order to accomplish its assigned mission

Question 15

What are the “Legal” purposes of ROE?

Answer 15

ROE provide restraints on commander’s actions consistent with both domestic and international law and may, under certain circumstances, impose greater restrictions on actions than those required by law

Question 16

Describe how ROEs and National Security intersect.

Answer 16

• Deterring armed attack against the US across the range of military operations
• Defeating an attack should deterrence fail
• Preventing or neutralizing hostile efforts to intimidate or coerce the US by the threat or use of armed force or terrorist actions

Question 17

What is the escalation plan if deterrence fails?

Answer 17

• Respond proportionally to the provocation
• Designed to limit the scope and intensity of the conflict
• Will discourage escalation
• Will achieve political and military objectives