The War on Terror

The war on terror is far broader than the national concerns related to the terrorist group or the individual terrorist; the spill-over issues of media coverage, demands for application to the International Criminal Court, and serious concerns related to protection of critical national infrastructure abound.

This is a broad but comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of legal issues that arise in addressing terror violence in the 21st century. The operational and the legal aspects of the struggle against terrorists are reviewed in a way that allows the reader to understand both the domestic and the international legal context. More importantly, Terry examines the development of rules of engagement and their application in the terrorist environment.

The law of self defence in this environment is differentiated from more traditional conflict and nuances particular to effective response are explored. The role of interrogation, the fine line between harsh interrogation and torture, and the jurisdictional claims that arise in the venue for trial are carefully reviewed as well.

About the Author
James P. Terry is a retired Marine Corps Colonel with a law degree and a PhD in International relations, who served as an infantry officer in Vietnam, aboard ship as CO of a Marine Detachment, during the first Gulf War. For more than 20 years, he served as a senior Marine Judge Advocate in a career capped by service as Legal Counsel to General Colin Powell, when he served as Chairman, JCS, and later as Secretary at the Department of State.