Anti-Personnel Landmines: A Force Multiplier or an Operational Liability in the 21st Century.

摘要

Statistics reflect that an estimated 100 million anti-personnel landmines (APLs) left from previous wars remain active in at least 70 countries and kill over 800 people every month. At the forefront of the international movement to ban landmines is the 1997 Ottawa Treaty whereby member-states have agreed not to use or transfer APLs or to assist anyone with actions that are prohibited under its provisions. The U.S. has chosen not to sign the Treaty citing its unique responsibilities and security concerns that would be jeopardized under the constraints of the agreement. The focus of this study is at the operational level of war and those aspects of the landmine ban that are most important to a combatant CINC. Specifically, the research examines the various Articles of the Ottawa Treaty and other relevant legislation as they affect U.S. APL policy, identifying current landmine capabilities and alternative technologies, and looking at the significant operational implications for coalition warfare stemming from the Treaty.