Law of War Handbook 2005

suffering. The second is treaty law dealing with specific weapons or weapons

systems.

B. Legal Review. Before discussing these areas, it is important to note first that all

US. weapons and weapons systems must be reviewed by the service TJAG for

legality under the law of war. Interim Guidance, Defense Acquisition,

DEPSECDEF Memo, 30 Oct 2002, AR 27-53, AFI 51-402, and SECNAVINST

571 1.8A. A review occurs before the award of the engineering and

manufacturing development contract and again before the award of the initial

production contract. Legal review of new weapons is also required under

Article 36 of GP I.

1. The Test. Is the acquisition and procurement of the weapon consistent with
   all applicable treaties, customary international law, and the law of armed
   conflict? Interim Guidance, Defense Acquisition, para. 3.2.1. In TJAG
   reviews, the discussion will often focus on whether the employment of the
   weapon or munition for its normal or expected use inevitably would cause
   injury or suffering manifestly disproportionate to its military effectiveness.
   This test cannot be conducted in isolation, but must be weighed in light of
   comparable, lawful weapons in use on the modem battlefield. Weapons may
   be illegal:

a.  Per se. Those weapons calculated to cause unnecessary suffering,

determined by the "usage of states." Examples: lances with barbed

heads, irregular shaped bullets, projectiles filled with glass. FM 27-10,

para. 34.

b. By improper use.     Using an otherwise legal weapon in a manner to cause

unnecessary suffering. Example: using a flamethrower against enemy

troops in a bunker after dousing the bunker with gasoline; the intent being

to inflict severe pain and injury on the enemy troops.

c.  By agreement or prohibited by specific treaties. Example: certain land

mines, booby traps, and non-detectable fi-agments are prohibited under the

Protocols to the 1980 Conventional Weapons Treaty.

C. As noted above, Hague, article 22 states that the right of belligerents to adopt
means of injuring the enemy is not unlimited. Furthermore, "it is especially

forbidden.. .to employ arms, projectiles or material calculated to cause

unnecessary suffering." HR, art. 23e. The following weapons and munitions are

considered under this general principle.