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21 Fletcher F. World Aff. 101 (1997)
The Law of Noncombatant Immunity and the Targeting of National Electric Power Systems

handle is hein.journals/forwa21 and id is 359 raw text is: THE LAW OF NONCOMBATANT IMMUNITY AND THE TARGETING OF NATIONAL ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS CDR. J.W. CRAWFORD, Ell Taken together, the synergistic effect of losing primary electrical power sources in the first days of the war helped reduce Iraq's ability to respond to Coalition attacks.' The aerial bombardment of national electric power systems has long been considered indispensable to an effective wartime campaign. From as long ago as World War I to as recently as the Persian Gulf War, military planners have focused on the neutralization or destruction of enemy power grids as a criti- cal target set and the key to vital strategic centers of gravity. Specifically, proponents assert that attacking electricity results in particularly damaging second-order impacts on civilian morale, political leadership, military forc- es and materiel production.2 This concept has been championed by Col. John A. Warden, USAF (ret.), who developed the theory of the Five Strategic Rings through his writings and discussions within the Pentagon staff? The theory builds a framework for the use of aerospace power. Each ring represents a different facet of a nation's society: political leadership, economic systems, supporting infrastructure, pop- ulation and military forces. Colonel Warden's innovation lays the foundation for the notion of targeting national infrastructure to attack the enemy from the inside out, using airpower to skip over military forces, such as armies in the field, to strike directly at state leadership.4 Although the theory has been touted by many as the aerospace strategy most appropriate for twenty-first- Commander J. W. Crawford is a Professor of International Law, United States Naval War Col- lege. J.D., University ofNorth Carolina, Chapel Hill. LL.M., University of Miami School of Law. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be construed as an official position of the Department of Defense, United States Navy or any other government agency. The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Vol. 21:2, Summer/Fall 1997

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