The Law of Targeting

Author: William H. Boothby
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780199696611
Published In: August 2012
Format: Hardback , 656 pages
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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Detailed, practical, and accessible, this is the definitive work on the controversial topic of targeting in warfare
Highly contemporary account analysing new attack methods, including drone attacks and the complex issues surrounding cyber warfare
With both a doctrinal and practical perspective, this book will be invaluable to government and army legal advisers as well as to scholars and students in the area

Targeting is the primary method for securing strategic objectives in an armed conflict. Failure to comply with the law of targeting jeopardizes the achievement of those aims. It is therefore essential that all those involved in or studying issues surrounding targeting have an accurate and complete understanding of this area of law. This book offers the definitive and comprehensive statement of all aspects of the law of targeting. It is a 'one-stop shop' that answers all relevant questions in depth. It has been written in an open, accessible yet comprehensive style, and addresses both matters of established law and issues of topical controversy.

The text explains the meanings of such terms as 'civilian', 'combatant', and 'military objective'. Chapters are devoted to the core targeting principles of distinction, discrimination, and proportionality, as well as to the relationship between targeting and the protection of the environment and of objects and persons entitled to special protection. New technologies are also covered, with chapters looking at attacks using unmanned platforms and a discussion of the issues arising from cyber warfare. The book also examines recent controversies and perceived ambiguities in the rules governing targeting, including the use of human shields, the level of care required in a bombing campaign, and the difficulties involved in determining whether someone is directly participating in hostilities. This book will be invaluable to all working in this contentious area of law.

Readership: Academics and students of the laws of armed conflict; practitioners, government and military officals, and NGOs dealing with issues in warfare

Section I: The Law of Targeting in Context
1: Introduction
2: Historical Evolution of the Law
3: Sources of the Law
4: Spectrum of Conflict
Section II: General Principles in the Law of Targeting
5: Fundamental Customary Principles and Customary Rules
6: The AP1 Rule of Distinction
7: The AP I Requirement to take Precautions in Attack
8: The Controversy Over the Notion of Direct Participation in Hostilities
9: The Controversy over Bombardment - What is the Required Degree of Care?
Section III: Particular Protections
10: The Protection of the Environment
11: Cultural Property
12: Objects Entitled to Special Protection
Section IV: Weapons and Technologies
13: Weapons Law
14: Targeting Using Particular Technologies
Section V: Specific Media
15: Naval Warfare
16: Air Warfare
17: Space Warfare
18: Cyber Warfare
Section VI: Practical Aspects of Contemporary Targeting
19: The Prosecution of Difficult Targets
20: Types of Warfare
Section VI: Implementing the Law of Targeting
21: How States Implement the Distinction Principle
22: When Things go Wrong
Section VII Conclusion
23: The changing nature of conflict and the law of targeting

William H. Boothby, Former Deputy Director of Legal Services, Royal Air Force

Bill Boothby recently retired as Deputy Director of Legal Services for the Royal Air Force. He served in Germany, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Croatia and in a variety of locations in the United Kingdom. In 2009 he was awarded a Doktor der Rechte degree in international law at the University of Frankfurt (Oder) in Germany and published his associated doctoral thesis with OUP under the title Weapons and the Law of Armed Conflict. He is on the Editorial Board of the UK Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict, and contributed as one of the group of experts to theHarvard Manual on the International Law of Air and Missile Warfare. He is currently engaged as a member of the core group of international law experts preparing a Manual on the International Law of Cyber Warfare. Following retirement from the RAF, he plans to teach international law at a number of Universities and to continue to write and speak on the subject.