Section 18B--Law of War

Question 1

What arose from civilized nations’ humanitarian desire to lessen the effects of conflicts?

Answer 1

Law of war

Question 2

Which law of war principle has been viewed as the source of the civilian population’s immunity from being made the object of attack because their inoffensive and harmless character means there is no military purpose served by attacking them?

Answer 2

Humanity

Question 3

Employment of voluntary or involuntary human shields to protect military objectives or individual military units per personnel is a fundamental violation of which law of war principle?

Answer 3

Distinction

Question 4

True or False? Should doubt exist as to whether a captured individual is a lawful combatant, noncombatant, or an unprivileged belligerent, the individual will receive the protections of the Geneva Prisoner of War Convention until their actual status is determined.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Who, as a type of non-combatants, are protected persons and may not be made the object of direct attack? They may; however, suffer injury or death incident to a direct attack on a military objective without such an attack violating the law of war, if such attack is on a lawful target by lawful means and adheres to the principal of proportionality.

Answer 5

Civilians

Question 6

Which term, not used in the Geneva Conventions, but defined in the DoD Manual on the Law of War, includes “lawful combatants who have forfeited the privileges of combatant status by engaging in spying or sabotage, and private persons who have forfeited one or more of the protections of civilian status by engaging in hostilities?”

Answer 6

Unprivileged belligerent

hint: forfeited privilege = unprivileged

Question 7

What is an individual called who is not authorized by a state that is party to a conflict to take part in hostilities but does so anyway?

Answer 7

Unprivileged belligerent

hint: not authorized = unprivileged

Question 8

What includes any object that, by their own nature, location, purpose, or use, makes an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture, or neutralization in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage?

Answer 8

Military objectives

hint: object (if destroyed/captured/etc) = objective

Question 9

What should be taken to reduce the risk of harm to civilians and civilian objects when planning and conducting attacks, and in connection with certain types of weapons?

Answer 9

Feasible precautions

Question 10

Which members play a critical role in determining the propriety of a target and the choice of weapon to be used under the particular circumstances known to the commander when planning an attack?

Answer 10

Judge advocates, intelligence, and operations personnel

Question 11

What objects does the law of war provide specific protection for?

Answer 11

a) Medical units or establishments
b) transports of wounded or sick personnel
c) Military and civilian hospital ships
d) Safety zones established under the Geneva Conventions
e) Religious, cultural, and charitable buildings, monuments; and prisoner of war camps

Question 12

The law of war provides specific protection for certain objects. What are two exceptions regarding this protection status?

Answer 12

1) If these protected objects are used for military purposes, they may lose their protected status
2) An attack on protected objects near lawful military objectives that suffer collateral damage when the nearby military objectives are lawfully engaged does not violate law of war, subject to adherence to the principle of proportionality

Question 13

To whom shall Department of Defense personnel who suspect or have information which might reasonably be viewed as a violation of the law of war committed by or against U.S. personnel, enemy personnel, or any other individual, promptly report the violation?

Answer 13

To their immediate commander or the proper authority

Question 14

What provides implementation guidance on the inherent right of self-defense and the application of force for mission accomplishment?

Answer 14

Standing rules of engagement

Question 15

What presents a more specific application of the law of war principles, tailored to the political and military nature of a mission which are contained in execution orders, operations plans, and operations orders?

Answer 15

Mission-specific rules of engagement

hint: more specific application = mission-specific

Question 16

Self-defense methods include national, collective, unit, and individual levels of action. What are four elements that must be considered before undertaking the use of force in self-defense?

Answer 16

1) De-escalation
2) Necessity
3) Proportionality
4) Pursuit

Question 17

Which law of war principle focuses on the threat perceived by an individual or if a hostile act is committed or hostile intent is demonstrated against U.S. Armed Forces or other designated persons or property?

Answer 17

Necessity

Question 18

U.S. Armed Forces can pursue and engage a hostile force that has committed a hostile act or demonstrated a hostile intent if those forces continue to commit hostile acts or demonstrate hostile intent. Which LOAC principle is this?

Answer 18

Pursuit