PREFACEThe Law of War Handbook should be a start point for Judge Advocates looking for information on
the Law of War. It is the second volume of a three volume set and is to be used in conjunction with
the Operational Law Handbook (JA422) and the Documentary Supplement (JA424). The
Operational Law Handbook covers the myriad of non-Law of War issues a deployed Judge Advocate
may face and the Documentary Supplement reproduces many of the primary source documents
referred to in either of the other two volumes. The Law of War Handbook is not a substitute for
official references. Like operational law itself, the Handbook is a focused collection of diverse legal
and practical information. The handbook is not intended to provide "the school solution" to a
particular problem, but to help Judge Advocates recognize, analyze, and resolve the problems they
will encounter when dealing with the Law of War.
The Handbook was designed and written for the Judge Advocates practicing the Law of War. This
body of law is known by several names including the Law of War, the Law of Armed Conflict and
International Humanitarian Law. While these terms may largely be used interchangeably, for
historical and contextual reasons, the Law of War will be used in this publication. Unless otherwise
stated, masculine pronouns apply to both men and women.
The proponent for this publication is the International and Operational Law Department, The Judge
Advocate General's Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS). Send comments, suggestions, and work
product from the field to TJAGLCS, International and Operational Law Department, Attention: MAJ
Keith Puls, 600 Massie Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-1781. To gain more detailed
information or to discuss an issue with the author of a particular chapter or appendix call MAJ Puls at
DSN 521-33 10; Commercial (434) 971-33 10; or email [email protected].
The 2004 Law of War Handbook is on the Internet at http://www.jagcnet.army.mil. After accessing this
site, Enter JAGCNet, then go to the International and Operational Law sub-directory. The 2004
edition is also linked to the CLAMO General database under the keyword Law of War Handbook -
2004 edition. The digital copies are particularly valuable research tools because they contain many
hypertext links to the various treaties, statutes, DoD Directives/Instructions/Manuals,CJCS
Instructions, Joint Publications, Army Regulations, and Field Manuals that are referenced in the text.
If you find a blue link, click on it and Lotus Notes will retrieve the cited document from the Internet
for you. The hypertext linking is an ongoing project and will only get better with time. A word of
caution: some Internet links require that your computer contain Adobe Acrobat software.
To order copies of the 2004 Law of War Handbook, please call CLAMO at (434) 971 3339 or email
[email protected].