Moral dilemmas of modern war : torture, assassination, and blackmail in an age of asymmetric conflict

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? Describes The Impact Of Asymmetric Conflicts On The Practices Of War, Discussing Torture, Assassination, Blackmail, Extortion, Chemical Weapons, And Related Tactics, And Offers Advice On Ways To Respond To The Changing Demands Of Asymmetric Conflict. Torture, Assassination, And Blackmail In An Age Of Asymmetric Conflict -- Friends, Foes, Or Brothers In Arms? The Puzzle Of Combatant Equality -- Combatants In Asymmetric War -- Shooting To Kill : The Paradox Of Prohibited Weapons -- Shooting To Stun : The Paradox Of Nonlethal Warfare -- Murder, Self-defense, Or Execution? The Dilemma Of Assassination -- Human Dignity Or Human Life : The Dilemmas Of Torture And Rendition -- Noncombatants In Asymmetric War -- Blackmailing The Innocent : The Dilemma Of Noncombatant Immunity -- Killing The Innocent : The Dilemma Of Terrorism -- Risking Our Lives To Save Others : Puzzles Of Humanitarian Intervention -- Conclusion And Afterword -- Torture, Assassination, And Blackmail : New Norms For Asymmetric Conflict? -- The War In Gaza, December 2008 To January 2009. Michael L. Gross. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 301-309) And Index. Asymmetric Conflict Is Changing The Way That We Practice 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 Long-standing Prohibitions. This Book Offers A Practical Guide For Policymakers, Military Officers, Lawyers, Students, Journalists And Others Who Ask How To Adapt The Laws And Conventions Of War To The Changing Demands Of Asymmetric Conflict. As War Wages Between State And Nonstate Parties, Difficult Questions Arise About The Status Of Guerrillas, The Methods Each Side May Use To Disable The Other And The Means Necessary To Identify And Protect Civilians Caught In The Crossfire. Answering These Questions While Providing Each Side A Reasonable Chance To Press Its Claims By Force Of Arms Requires Us To Reevaluate The Principle Of Noncombatant Immunity, Adjust The Standards Of Proportionality, And Redefine The Limits Of Unnecessary Suffering And Superfluous Injury. In Doing So, Many Practices That Conventional War Prohibits Are Slowly Evolving Into New Norms Of Asymmetric Conflict. 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 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 cant the other? To read and comment on Michael Gross's blog article on the UN Human Rights Council Report on Gaza, click Torture, assassination, and blackmail in modern, asymmetric conflict Friends, foes or brothers in arms : the puzzle of combatant equality Dilemmas and paradoxes of combatancy Shooting to kill : the paradox of prohibited weapons Shooting to stun : the paradox of nonlethal warfare Murder, self-defense or execution : the dilemma of assassination Human dignity or human life : the dilemmas of torture Dilemmas and paradoxes of noncombatancy Blackmailing the innocent : the dilemma of noncombatant immunity Killing the innocent : the dilemma of terror Risking our lives to save others : the paradox (and dilemma) of humanitarian intervention Torture, assassination, and blackmail : new norms for asymmetric conflict.