TY - JOUR
T1 - From principle to practice
T2 - US military strategy and protection of civilians in Afghanistan
AU - Suhrke, Astri
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - During its engagement in Afghanistan, the US military seriously tried to mitigate the risk of civilian casualties from airstrikes only when called for by changes in military doctrine emphasizing the need to gain the support of the population. Consistent efforts by external political and humanitarian actors to reduce casualties by demanding more transparency and clearer lines of accountability for ‘collateral damage’ had little immediate, observable effect. The case study underlines the contingent nature of progress towards protecting civilians in armed conflict even when a military institution formally accepts the principles of customary international humanitarian law, but concludes that, faute de mieux, strategies to enhance protection through greater accountability and attention to the kind of military ordinance used remain central.
AB - During its engagement in Afghanistan, the US military seriously tried to mitigate the risk of civilian casualties from airstrikes only when called for by changes in military doctrine emphasizing the need to gain the support of the population. Consistent efforts by external political and humanitarian actors to reduce casualties by demanding more transparency and clearer lines of accountability for ‘collateral damage’ had little immediate, observable effect. The case study underlines the contingent nature of progress towards protecting civilians in armed conflict even when a military institution formally accepts the principles of customary international humanitarian law, but concludes that, faute de mieux, strategies to enhance protection through greater accountability and attention to the kind of military ordinance used remain central.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84927688913&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13533312.2014.993177
DO - 10.1080/13533312.2014.993177
M3 - Article
SN - 1353-3312
VL - 22
SP - 100
EP - 118
JO - International Peacekeeping
JF - International Peacekeeping
IS - 1
ER -