#15 Highly Classified: National Caveats & Government Secrecy – Dr Regeena Kingsley The last blog discussed how an alarming, new, global norm has developed within contemporary multinational security operations. Since the early 1990s, nations have been increasingly imposing heavy and wide-ranging constraints on the forces they contribute to multinational security operations (see blog “#14 An Alarming New Norm: National Caveat Constraints in Multinational Operations”). The trend has become so strong in fact that today national caveats are considered to be ‘normal’ and the ‘common lot to varying degrees of all military operations conducted by NATO, the European Union
#14 An Alarming New Norm: National Caveat Constraints in Multinational Operations
#14 An Alarming New Norm: National Caveat Constraints in Multinational Operations – Dr Regeena Kingsley Routine imposition of national caveat constraints on national military contingents has developed as an increasingly common habit of nations today, whenever countries contribute forces to Multinational Operations (MNOs) authorised by the international community. This practice has continued regardless of whether the international security missions concerned have been conducted under the banner and command of an international organisation, such as the United Nations (UN), or a treaty-based military Alliance structure, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Caveat constraints have also been habitually
#13 National Commanders: Caveat Mediators
#13 National Commanders: Caveat Mediators – Dr Regeena Kingsley In previous blogs it has been explained that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are instructions for the use of force by military forces, and that these instructions or rules relate to two specific issues – self-defence and mission accomplishment. With regard to self-defence, when individuals, groups of individuals, or an armed force are declared Enemy, it is permissible for force to be used as a matter of course and offensive action to take place. The Enemy force may be attacked, at the discretion and judgment of the military commander,
#12 The Binding Power of Rules of Engagement: Enforcement & Punishment
#12 The Binding Power of Rules of Engagement: Enforcement & Punishment – Dr Regeena Kingsley Rules of Engagement (ROE) are precise instructions relating to the use of lethal force by military personnel when deployed on military operations. In blog “#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions”, the two major categories of ROE instructions – self-defence and mission accomplishment instructions – were discussed in detail, with particular reference to the three types of authorisation, limitation and prohibition rules contained in the latter most influential category with regard to effective Multinational Operations (MNOs). Following this
#11 How are Rules of Engagement Formed for Military Operations?
#11 How are Rules of Engagement Formed for Military Operations? – Dr Regeena Kingsley Given the importance of the content of Rules of Engagement (ROE) for any military forces deployed on security or peace support operations (see blog “#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions”), two questions immediately arise. How exactly are these ROE formulated? And who within the national government apparatus is responsible for drafting ROE for any Multinational Operation (MNO) during the pre-deployment phase? ROE Formulation: Seven Steps There are seven steps that are typically involved in the ROE formulation
#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions
#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions – Dr Regeena Kingsley Rules of Engagement (ROE) contain specific instructions relating to the use of force. Indeed, they are defined by NATO as: ‘Directives issued by competent military authority which specify the circumstances and limitations under which forces will initiate and/or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered’.[1] ROE contain precise and classified prescriptions on exactly when (use of force) and how (degree of force) military armed forces may employ force against the Enemy while performing tasks towards stated mission objectives (see blog “#9 What
#9 What are “Rules of Engagement”? Military Mandates & Instructions for the Use of Force
#9 What are “Rules of Engagement”? Military Mandates & Instructions for the Use of Force – Dr Regeena Kingsley The imposition of restrictive rules on armed forces during wartime operations is not a new practice. Indeed, evidence of their use has been traced back as far as the Middle Ages, enshrined in the royal ‘Letters of Marque and Reprisal’ commissions issued to medieval knights in the fourteenth century, and found within similar commissions and charters given to privateers plundering foreign trade ships in the Elizabethan era of the sixteenth century.[1] The concept of Rules of Engagement (ROE) as