Economic sanctions and embargo are long accepted means of coercion used to guide the actions of nation states. Numerous historical examples with varying degrees of success indicate that Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) are a necessary part of sanction and embargo enforcement. With the line between war and peace becoming increasingly vague, U.S. forces face a growing number of operations which require the controlled application of force, and among these are MIO. Restraint, born of moral and ethical considerations, coupled with the need to maintain public support for military action, has brought a growing emphasis on the development and employment of non-lethal weapons (NLW). These weapons bridge the gap between presence with the threat of force and the application of deadly force. Non-lethal weapons offer key advantages to the Operational Commander which warrant their consideration in the planning and execution of any military mission. As a measure between force and no force, NLW are ideally suited to missions between peace and war. When applied with rules of engagement which are clear, concise, and mission appropriate, NLW provide increased flexibility and enhanced mission effectiveness to forces conducting MIO.
展开▼
