title: War Law: Understanding International Law and Armed Conflict
author:  Michael Byers 
description: "Succinct, highly readable, and important."<br /><br />"Should be read, and pondered, by those who are seriously concerned with the legacy we will leave to future generations." -- Noam Chomsky<br /><br />"If Britain suspected that a Boston bar barbored IRA terrorists, would it be justified in lobbing cruise missiles into the city? Byers . . . achieves plenty of similar provocations in this lucid primer."
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  The Laws Of War
  
  
  [PREFACE TO THE SECOND
  EDITION.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_001.html#filepos5020)
  
  [INTRODUCTION TO PART
  I.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_001.html#filepos6609)
  
  
  [PART I. THE LAWS OF WAR AFFECTING COMMERCE AND
  
  
  SHIPPING.
  
  
    
    
  [CHAPTER I. COMMENCEMENT OF
  WAR.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_002.html#filepos21894)  
    
  [SECTION I. The Immediate Effects of
  War.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_002.html#filepos22007)  
    
  [SECTION II. On Enemies and Hostile
  Property.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_002.html#filepos61012)  
    
  [CHAPTER
  II.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_002.html#filepos80631)  
    
  [SECTION I. Actual War.—Its
  Effects.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_002.html#filepos80724)  
    
  [SECTION II. Prizes and
  Privateers.](The%20Laws%20Of%20War%2c%20Affecting%20Comm_split_002.html#filepo