Major General Charles J. Dunlap, USAF (Ret) Law, Ethics and National Security
SSV Board member, Sandi Meadows, introduced Retired Major General Dunlap, currently a law professor at Duke. He began his talk with the following question: What was the effect on injuries to soldiers in WWI when cloth caps were replaced with metal helmets?
From the aspect of numbers, the US military currently has 2.5 million soldiers compared to WWII when the number was 20 million. Military equipment is also very different. Currently there is a surge in numbers wanting to join with a special interest in space opportunities.
Treaties- Currently the US has agreed to defend 10 additional countries while most countries defend only themselves. Customary international law is not written down and for the definition of ‘armed conflict’ there is no agreed upon single statement. It is understood that if armed conflict does not meet standards, law enforcement rules are followed; that involves no enforcement unless individuals participate in conflict. To illustrate the matter, General Dunlap gave the example of Ukrainian citizens posting on social media the location of Russian soldiers. This made the citizens combatants and thus legitimate targets. The response is the decision of the commander.
Further topics he discussed were self-defense vs. law enforcement for the basis of intercepting drug boats. He noted that only 12% of drugs are intercepted by this method. In another particularly complicated situation, General Dunlap stated the recent bombing of the school in Iran where the US goal is to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. The school bombing took place on a military base (legitimate target). In addition, Iran has a history of using children as a deterrent, media was giving inaccurate information and finally what information did the commander know before ordering the strike. A final point the General made was that in the long run, the closing of the Strait of Hormuz has greater global impact on the blocking of fertilizer than oil. There are many sources of oil, but ingredients in fertilizer are obtained around the strait of Hormuz.
In answer to his initial question, injuries to soldiers in WWI increased after metal helmets were introduced because fewer soldiers died of their injuries.
We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events!
September 9 th – Statewide Candidate Forum