A League of Airmen


Book Description

This report examines the contributions and limitations of air power in the Persian Gulf War. The authors conclude that, for the first time in modern combat, air power was the equal partner of land and sea power, performing the "critical enabling function" that led to victory. The authors seek to moderate, however, certain claims made by airpower advocates after the war: they maintain that the war did not demonstrate that a strategic air campaign guarantees victory, but rather that air power, skillfully employed under the right conditions, can neutralize, if not completely destroy, a modern army in the field. Nor did the war display breakthroughs in weapon technology, but rather the prowess of well-trained and motivated airmen and their support crews in using maturing technology. Moreover, the authors maintain, the air war was not fought as "jointly" as many supposed. The sheer mass of available air power allowed it to be used inefficiently at times to cater to doctrinal preferences of the various services.










Customary International Humanitarian Law


Book Description

This volume contains, for each aspect of international humanitarian law, a summary of the relevant treaty law and relevant state practice including legislation, military manuals, case-law and official statements, as well as practice of international organisations, conferences and judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. It offers a comprehensive overview of what current or past practice has been in the chosen representative countries around the world. This original and Authoritative work is published by Cambridge in association with the ICRC and will be an essential reference work for anyone involved with international humanitarian law.