Admiral Fitzwallace

President Biden had signed a new drone policy, said to limit counter-terrorism drone strikes which take place outside of conventional war zones. This policy departs from the previously loosened status of the former President Trump’s approach to the War on Terror. The policy codifies the limits that the admin put in place following his inauguration in January 2021. These limits, namely in the form of requiring the CIA and military to obtain White House permission to attack suspected terrorists where there is limited ground troops, have been implemented in the hope of reducing civilian risks.  Overall, this new policy calls for fewer drone strikes and greater consideration for civilians caught in the crossfire. A seemingly hopeful departure from Trump’s “ take out their families ” approach. Although a promising step forward, there are a few things to consider:  Following the aftermath of Trump’s counterterrorism policy, where there was a certain free for all and a sentiment of “...

  As the dust settles in certain Ukrainian towns and cities, images of death and destruction are being broadcast to the world, and chants are growing louder for war crimes to be prosecuted.  President Biden has argued the need for one, President Macron has stated that there are clear indications of war crimes and the Human Rights Watch has begun to offer reports on abuse and summary executions. Investigations have begun for legal proceedings to take place.  Just this week, a Russian soldier was tried and convicted for war crimes in Ukraine; a 21 year old tank commander was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a civilian in Chupakhira on February 28th. As the first sentencing to take place for the war crimes in Ukraine, the conversation has now turned to the topic of a greater war tribunal taking place, in an effort to bring a sense of justice for what has happened over the past few months.  Since the prosecution of Nazi leaders in Nuremberg, war tribunals ha...

The Distortion of the Principle of Self-Defence - How Obama’s Drone Policy Undermined the International Rule of Law. Weaponised drones became a fundamental feature in Obama’s fight against terrorism. Despite significant push back from international organisations and scholars, who lamented the drones’ widespread and seemingly unchecked use across multiple different states, Obama’s policies and justifications proved that drone strikes, in the name of self-defence, were here to stay. Even with such conviction held by the Obama administration, there are still layers of uncertainty when it comes to questions of the international rule of law.  Modern conflict undoubtedly places a level of pressure on international law when seeking to offer guidance on the appropriate course of action in conflict. A balance however, must be struck between accepting modern tactics and technology, and respecting the traditional rule of law – put in place to keep a measure on violence. Obama howeve...

The U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan was said to have been the end of America’s fight in the Middle East. As with many endings however, no matter how unclear or dramatic, there always comes a need for reflection and a moment to assess where those involved fell short. America's use of drones are no exception to this. Air Force technicians prepare a MQ-9 Reaper for flight When a state engages in drone warfare, it opens a family sized can of worms relating to problems of international law and waging a just war. Another problem to consider however, is the question of civilian casualties. Drones hold the allure of removing boots on the ground in the immediate moment; thereby creating a safer and more remote war. When you remove in-person involvement however, and wage your war from behind a screen, the ability to assess and accurately identify who is a threat is minimised. Pentagon documents , obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that drone strikes conducted in Afgh...

When you create a weapon so efficient and precise that it has been said to put “warheads on foreheads”, it can be expected that it might come back and bite you at some point.   This is exactly the position that America is finding itself in following the proliferation of the use of drones. What used to be an advantage on the side of America – a safer war from the confines of a base on American soil – has now fallen into the hands of insurgent groups.   In an attempt to combat this, the U.S has become to roll out a number of strategies across the multiple military branches in the form of training, tools and sensors to jam or prevent unmanned aerial vehicles. Col. David Morgan, Joint C-sUAS Office Division Chief of Requirements and Capabilities has identified it to be a “systems of systems approach… there is no one silver bullet that is going to address this.”   The introduction of this ‘system of systems’ aims to become a natural part of training so that any war fighter...

On September 11 th 2001, the world stopped and turned to their radio or TV to learn of a terrorist attack which shook the foundations of what America held to be true. 19 men, armed only with box cutters, demonstrated to America that it is not untouchable, and new and unknown threats lay just beyond the horizon.   Memorial Site of 9/11   -   Photo Drew Angerer 20 years later, almost to the date, the world once again tuned in to see a nation’s military response, one that has left a path of destruction and bloodshed, come to a confusing and inconclusive end. Much like the film ‘Uncut Gems’, you are left feeling utterly drained and no more informed about the motives than at the start, and with a sense that the last 2 hours, or 20 years, have been for absolutely nothing.   So what has changed in the last 20 years? Technology, for one, has improved exponentially. Not only does this mean a fancy new iPhone for us, but it also means expensive and extravaga...