Abstract

This case study is taken from the early phase of the current war against terrorism in Afghanistan. It exemplifies the complexities of contemporary warfare, in which the commander must weigh the military advantages provided by advanced technology against political, legal and ethical considerations. This can cause frustration in the lower echelons, when it is perceived that opportunities for decisive strikes are missed because of hesitation in the chain of command at higher levels. Following the case study, three commentators examine the military, constitutional and ethical issues raised by this report