Law Commons^™

Targeting, Command Judgment, And A Proposed Quantum Of Proof Component: A Fourth Amendment Lesson In Contextual Reasonableness, Geoffrey S. Corn

Geoffrey S. Corn

No decision by a military commander engaged in hostilities has more profound consequence than the decision to launch an attack. Pursuant to the law of armed conflict (LOAC), that decision must be based on the judgment that the object of attack – a person, place, or thing - qualifies as a lawful military objective. This judgment almost always sets in motion the application of deadly combat power, and routinely produces loss of life or grievous bodily injury, often times to individuals and property not the intended object of attack, but considered ‘collateral damage.’ In operational terms, this judgment determines whether …