Wow. This is a law of armed conflict (LOAC) class hypo that has come to real life. People at the highest levels of government have really stopped listening to their better angels. Terrible.
September 29, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Wow. This is a law of armed conflict (LOAC) class hypo that has come to real life. People at the highest levels of government have really stopped listening to their better angels. Terrible.
"I'm noticing a lot of bombs and bombers on the bomber base next door that is used to bomb Iran and I have some concerns."
Next up an Counter Terrorism police officer looking around and asking:
"Is this... a legitimate target under LOAC?"
Next up an Counter Terrorism police officer looking around and asking:
"Is this... a legitimate target under LOAC?"
September 28, 2026 at 4:18 PM
"I'm noticing a lot of bombs and bombers on the bomber base next door that is used to bomb Iran and I have some concerns."
Next up an Counter Terrorism police officer looking around and asking:
"Is this... a legitimate target under LOAC?"
Next up an Counter Terrorism police officer looking around and asking:
"Is this... a legitimate target under LOAC?"
anyway something can not be a LOAC violation and still very bad and stupid
(and not that it matters because the lie is already around the world but maven didn't do the thing that everyone on all sides is claiming it did with targeting here)
(and not that it matters because the lie is already around the world but maven didn't do the thing that everyone on all sides is claiming it did with targeting here)
September 26, 2026 at 10:27 PM
anyway something can not be a LOAC violation and still very bad and stupid
(and not that it matters because the lie is already around the world but maven didn't do the thing that everyone on all sides is claiming it did with targeting here)
(and not that it matters because the lie is already around the world but maven didn't do the thing that everyone on all sides is claiming it did with targeting here)
September 26, 2026 at 5:54 PM
... but that's not international law itself, that's rules we came up with to make sure nobody violates it by mistake.
Also, I can say with personal knowledge that the US does not enforce a rule like that universally, even if it's taught in LOAC training to the grunts.
Also, I can say with personal knowledge that the US does not enforce a rule like that universally, even if it's taught in LOAC training to the grunts.
September 25, 2026 at 6:05 PM
... but that's not international law itself, that's rules we came up with to make sure nobody violates it by mistake.
Also, I can say with personal knowledge that the US does not enforce a rule like that universally, even if it's taught in LOAC training to the grunts.
Also, I can say with personal knowledge that the US does not enforce a rule like that universally, even if it's taught in LOAC training to the grunts.
The culpability is placed differently.
For example, if Russian soldiers adhered strictly to the LOAC we would not prosecute them for actions in Ukraine. But we might still see Putin prosecuted in the Hague for launching an illegal war of aggression and cite Ukrainian civilian deaths as evidence.
For example, if Russian soldiers adhered strictly to the LOAC we would not prosecute them for actions in Ukraine. But we might still see Putin prosecuted in the Hague for launching an illegal war of aggression and cite Ukrainian civilian deaths as evidence.
September 25, 2026 at 4:06 AM
The culpability is placed differently.
For example, if Russian soldiers adhered strictly to the LOAC we would not prosecute them for actions in Ukraine. But we might still see Putin prosecuted in the Hague for launching an illegal war of aggression and cite Ukrainian civilian deaths as evidence.
For example, if Russian soldiers adhered strictly to the LOAC we would not prosecute them for actions in Ukraine. But we might still see Putin prosecuted in the Hague for launching an illegal war of aggression and cite Ukrainian civilian deaths as evidence.
What the US military teaches in its LOAC training and enforces on its troops is its own rules for ensuring we abide by international law. It's not international law itself.
September 25, 2026 at 4:01 AM
What the US military teaches in its LOAC training and enforces on its troops is its own rules for ensuring we abide by international law. It's not international law itself.
if you want to argue morality or whatever sure, but in terms of LOAC compliance there's explicitly no distinction for good reasons
September 25, 2026 at 3:58 AM
if you want to argue morality or whatever sure, but in terms of LOAC compliance there's explicitly no distinction for good reasons
yeah, on the observation point that is very much a US COIN ROE thing, not a LOAC thing
Standoff is the most obvious, but lots of other stuff in peer war where you are gonna be putting fires on something you don't have direct observation of when you're firing and it's 100% LOAC compliant
Standoff is the most obvious, but lots of other stuff in peer war where you are gonna be putting fires on something you don't have direct observation of when you're firing and it's 100% LOAC compliant
September 25, 2026 at 3:49 AM
yeah, on the observation point that is very much a US COIN ROE thing, not a LOAC thing
Standoff is the most obvious, but lots of other stuff in peer war where you are gonna be putting fires on something you don't have direct observation of when you're firing and it's 100% LOAC compliant
Standoff is the most obvious, but lots of other stuff in peer war where you are gonna be putting fires on something you don't have direct observation of when you're firing and it's 100% LOAC compliant
Given how many articles I see from Israeli media about Hamas child soldiers (genuinely a problem but rather biased reporting...) they certainly care about other other people following LOAC!
September 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Given how many articles I see from Israeli media about Hamas child soldiers (genuinely a problem but rather biased reporting...) they certainly care about other other people following LOAC!
The segue into Taiwan is really interesting. This might also have something to do with Caseway’s flagship product focusing on legal compliance at a time of schizophrenic executive orders, conflicting announcements and Hegseth randomly gutting the JAGs and guys who do LOAC compliance.
September 24, 2026 at 7:55 PM
The segue into Taiwan is really interesting. This might also have something to do with Caseway’s flagship product focusing on legal compliance at a time of schizophrenic executive orders, conflicting announcements and Hegseth randomly gutting the JAGs and guys who do LOAC compliance.
September 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Sounds perfidious, in a LOAC sense of that term. As in, the kind of stuff that people get hanged for being involved in.
September 24, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Sounds perfidious, in a LOAC sense of that term. As in, the kind of stuff that people get hanged for being involved in.
Please don't assume that I don't understand the laws and customs of warfare. I know LOAC very well. All of this is a question of status first—and that is determined by observable conduct. He is disqualified and did not do what the Constitution required: remove the disability before assuming office.
September 23, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Please don't assume that I don't understand the laws and customs of warfare. I know LOAC very well. All of this is a question of status first—and that is determined by observable conduct. He is disqualified and did not do what the Constitution required: remove the disability before assuming office.
No understanding of necessity and proportionality under IHRL could render the killing of the shipwrecked individuals lawful.
If LOAC is applicable to these strikes, the attack would almost certainly be a violation of LOAC and a war crime.
www.justsecurity.org/130092/killi...
If LOAC is applicable to these strikes, the attack would almost certainly be a violation of LOAC and a war crime.
www.justsecurity.org/130092/killi...
Killings in the Caribbean: War Crime or Arbitrary Act?
Analysis of U.S. strikes and the consequences of classifying them as arbitrary killings or war crimes under international law.
www.justsecurity.org
September 23, 2026 at 3:28 PM
No understanding of necessity and proportionality under IHRL could render the killing of the shipwrecked individuals lawful.
If LOAC is applicable to these strikes, the attack would almost certainly be a violation of LOAC and a war crime.
www.justsecurity.org/130092/killi...
If LOAC is applicable to these strikes, the attack would almost certainly be a violation of LOAC and a war crime.
www.justsecurity.org/130092/killi...
🔗 Find the chapter here: link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
#IHL #LOAC #forcibledisplacement | @tmcasser.bsky.social
#IHL #LOAC #forcibledisplacement | @tmcasser.bsky.social
September 23, 2026 at 10:13 AM
🔗 Find the chapter here: link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
#IHL #LOAC #forcibledisplacement | @tmcasser.bsky.social
#IHL #LOAC #forcibledisplacement | @tmcasser.bsky.social
tjaglcs.army.mil/Periodicals/...
( LOAC )
( LOAC )
Operational Law Handbook > Chapter 3: THE LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT
tjaglcs.army.mil
September 20, 2026 at 5:59 PM
tjaglcs.army.mil/Periodicals/...
( LOAC )
( LOAC )
Raffi:
Ball-knowers say doing so makes it a legitimate target under LOAC.
This is, of course, hearsay.
Ball-knowers say doing so makes it a legitimate target under LOAC.
This is, of course, hearsay.
September 20, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Raffi:
Ball-knowers say doing so makes it a legitimate target under LOAC.
This is, of course, hearsay.
Ball-knowers say doing so makes it a legitimate target under LOAC.
This is, of course, hearsay.
Well, extirpation is *a* solution to insurgency.
It's just considered a violation of LOAC and genocide.
It's just considered a violation of LOAC and genocide.
September 19, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Well, extirpation is *a* solution to insurgency.
It's just considered a violation of LOAC and genocide.
It's just considered a violation of LOAC and genocide.
not a violation of LOAC, just human rights
September 19, 2026 at 1:56 PM
not a violation of LOAC, just human rights
All I would say is that it’s perfectly fine to analyze what happened as bad etc. without invoking LOAC/IHL violation to prove the badness. Acts can be and are terrible completely independently of how an IHL analysis shakes out.
September 19, 2026 at 1:09 PM
All I would say is that it’s perfectly fine to analyze what happened as bad etc. without invoking LOAC/IHL violation to prove the badness. Acts can be and are terrible completely independently of how an IHL analysis shakes out.
I am so fucking angry That Guy decided to be a smug fucking jackass about this, "oh they only called it a war crime because they dont understand LOAC" meanwhile hegseth is giving speeches about how violating international law makes you a manly man with a massive cock
September 19, 2026 at 11:15 AM
I am so fucking angry That Guy decided to be a smug fucking jackass about this, "oh they only called it a war crime because they dont understand LOAC" meanwhile hegseth is giving speeches about how violating international law makes you a manly man with a massive cock
anyway I think maybe we roughly agree that there could be a clearer political path to punishing massacres and unjust war that might be more effective/preferable to LOAC solutions
September 19, 2026 at 10:44 AM
anyway I think maybe we roughly agree that there could be a clearer political path to punishing massacres and unjust war that might be more effective/preferable to LOAC solutions
there seems to be a strong feeling that LOAC shouldn't be able to deter killing civilians en masse under questionable circumstances, that doing so would unreasonably hinder force of arms -- that doing so would be a bad idea
but if LOAC can't do it, we're pretty much left with post-facto, ad-hockery
but if LOAC can't do it, we're pretty much left with post-facto, ad-hockery
September 19, 2026 at 10:17 AM
there seems to be a strong feeling that LOAC shouldn't be able to deter killing civilians en masse under questionable circumstances, that doing so would unreasonably hinder force of arms -- that doing so would be a bad idea
but if LOAC can't do it, we're pretty much left with post-facto, ad-hockery
but if LOAC can't do it, we're pretty much left with post-facto, ad-hockery
I do appreciate people explaining Ius ad/in bellum. Also the recent LOAC "conversation". We do not live in a pink world and a hint of these concepts has been positive to me. Do not dismay.
September 19, 2026 at 4:57 AM
I do appreciate people explaining Ius ad/in bellum. Also the recent LOAC "conversation". We do not live in a pink world and a hint of these concepts has been positive to me. Do not dismay.