International law governing the use of military force has been the subject of intense public debate. Under what conditions is it appropriate, or necessary, for a country to use force when diplomacy has failed? Michael Byers, a widely known world expert on international law, weights these issues in War Law. Byers examines the history of armed conflict and international law through a series of case studies of past conflicts, ranging from the 1837 Caroline Incident to the abuse of detainees by U.S. forces at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Byers explores the legal controversies that surrounded the 1999 and 2001 interventions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, the 2003 war in Iraq, as well as the role of war crimes tribunals and the International Criminal Court. War Law is neither a textbook not a treatise, but a fascinating account of a highly controversial topic that is necessary reading for fans of military history and general readers alike. (Bookdata)