Discussion Board ICJ 703

The Law that Applies to Afghanistan’s War

Afghanistan’s conflicts applies the laws of war or humanitarian perspective. It integrates international rules and conventions that limit the use of armed weapons in war. The conflicts occurring in the nation affects the development of sovereignty and nationhood. The neglect of global safety and security by the Afghanistan government is considered an approach that prompts adversaries to handle combatants. A nation such as the US is keen on worldwide peace and security and is likely to act in good faith through hostile actions to achieve this perspective. Afghanistan is entangled in a war with the United States over Afghanistan’s decision to harbor terrorists. Its decision to offer support to the Taliban terrorist group affects the welfare of other global communities. As Dunoff, Ratner, Wippman, D. (2015) reveals, Afghanistan had continued to shelter, sponsor, and supply terrorists with structures and systems that they utilize to threaten people globally. The US has initiated actions meant to deter any further attack on its nation and other communities worldwide. The Afghanistan government has not taken any action to stop the attacks, making it hard for the country to develop closer relationships with other nations. The US acted in self-defense against the attacks perpetrated by the Taliban. The rationale for the laws of war selection is to examine if the US was right to attack Afghanistan.

The US is a state actor, whereas Afghanistan is a non-state actor. It has the sovereign right to act in good faith to protect global territories. However, issues linked to targeted individuals and implications to innocent persons are likely to emerge. For example, in the case of the US attack on the Afghanistan community, there is a risk of loss of negatively affecting non-interested segments. Al Qaeda attacked the US, and its retaliatory attack extensively affects Afghanistan and its Taliban government. Thus, it calls for intervention by the Security Council instead of retaliatory attacks to assist in solving the issue. Overall, the US versus Afghanistan armed attacks attract laws or war approaches to protect and safeguard innocent lives.

References

Dunoff, J. L., Ratner, S. R., & Wippman, D. (2015). Wartime Abuses: US Treatment of Prisoners at Abu Ghraib. In International Law: Norms, Actors, Process; A Problem-Oriented Approach. 475-539, New York: Aspen Publishers.