Bows and arrows, for example, were banned under the chivalric code not because they caused greater pain, but because they allowed commoners to threaten the privileged knights. Feudal knights used the chivalric code to maintain their control of arms, keeping the peasants in their place. Chivalry, per an honest reading of the history books, connotes chauvinism, elitism, and the inhumanity of the Crusades. But when you equate it, as the manual does, with chivalry, it isn’t as inspiring as it may sound. Of course honor on its face certainly doesn’t carry the same baggage as the Confederate flag. Yet why was this resurrection necessary? I’m all for history informing one’s understanding of current regulatory and statutory requirements, but particularly at a time when this country is finally moving past outmoded symbols of hatred such as the Confederate flag, why regress by emphasizing loaded medieval concepts to help regulate how our military prosecutes wars? Sean Watts eloquently pointed out in his earlier post, resurrects these concepts as fundamental principles undergirding jus in bello. According to the manual, “onor is also called chivalry” and “demands a certain amount of fairness in offense and defense and a certain mutual respect between opposing forces.” The manual, as Prof. Instead, it allows them to professionally execute the horrible tasks we as a nation give them, while letting them return with their souls intact.īut the new manual does little to drive this point home, and instead turns to outdated, chauvinistic, and frankly distasteful concepts as motivating forces for our servicemen and women. While consistent adherence to this legal regime’s rules helps promote disciplined forces and contributes to a more lasting peace, the primary driver behind the modern jus in bello is humanitarian in nature - IHL is meant “to mitigate the evils inseparable from war, to ameliorate the lot of the war victims, and to put an end to unnecessary hardships.” Overtly embracing the humanity that the law of war recognizes doesn’t turn soldiers into kumbaya-singing pacifists. For good reason, most of the world refers to jus in bello as international humanitarian law (IHL). The last time I checked, knighthood and the Crusades weren’t shining examples of humanity, the principle that is the driving force behind jus in bello. I have to admit I had a visceral negative reaction to the new Defense Department Law of War Manual’s emphasis on honor and chivalry. This series includes posts from Sean Watts, Eric Jensen, Adil Ahmad Haque, Geoffrey Corn, Charlie Dunlap, Jr., John Dehn, and more to come. Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.By Rachel VanLandingham, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.)Įditor’s Note: Just Security is holding a “ mini forum” on the new Defense Department Law of War Manual. Britannica Beyond We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.From tech to household and wellness products. Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.#WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.Demystified Videos In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
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