Customer Reviews

Obeying Orders: Atrocity, Military Discipline, and the Law of War

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In this book, Mr. Osiel contends that the military should be more proactive in prosecuting soldiers for violations of the law of warfare. Osiel contends that current policy generally leads to litigation only in cases of atrocity. To his credit, the author recognizes the complexities of the modern battlefield and the "real-world" impact of imposing new or thicker layers of control within the chaos that is war. He also recognizes the complexities that peace-keeping and peace-making operations pose for soldiers and leaders at all levels. Professional soldiers will find some of his example cases distracting, as they are clear violations of the law without imposing his higher standard to the situation. This book should be recommended reading for all Judge Advocate General officers and field-grade commanders that are participating in combined (international) operations. This book should generate some good discussion among professional officers as they digest his proposals for increased responsibility at all levels of the command structure. Any instructor involved in teaching ethics, leadership, or the Law of War will also find this work helpful.