The War on Terror The Legal Dimension [Hardcover]

An authoritative, comprehensive and well-written examination of the legal dimension in countering terrorism by the United States government, focusing on the cases of responding to terrorist insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq. The author is a leading expert on these topics, having served as a former Marine Corps judge advocate and legal counsel to the U.S. Defense Department. The books chapters cover topics such as the legal dimension required in the operational context of counterterrorism, including the use of covert action; the international legal and political context for countering state-sponsored terrorism; the law of self-defense as applied to the terrorist threat; developing rules of engagement in countering terrorism; the application of Habeas Corpus in the detention of enemy combatants; torture and the interrogation of detainees; the dilemma of turning to federal courts or military commissions in trying suspected terrorists; international law and maritime terrorism and piracy; outsourcing military support operations in counterterrorism; the legal dimension in countering cyberterrorism, and the relationship between counterterrorism and media access to information. The concluding chapter presents the authors views on future perspectives in countering the terrorist threat.[A]n excellent overview and a valuable contribution to the important goal of producing an informed nation committed both to protecting its people against terrorism and upholding the rule of law. It is a book that will be of value both to experts in the field and ordinary citizens who wish to better understand the legal dimensions of a conflict that may be with us for some years to come.Examining the legal dimension of the war on terror, James P. Terry carefully explores the myriad juridical concerns that must be addressed in prosecuting a war with few established legal boundaries.A former Marine judge advocate and legal counsel to General Colin Powell, James Terry explores the genesis of tlã+