The decision by the US and UK governments to use military force against Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent occupation and administration of that State have brought into sharp focus fundamental fault lines in international law. The deci- sion to invade, the conduct of the war and occupation, and the mechanisms used to administer the country all challenge the international legal community, placing it at a crossroads. When can the use of force be justified? What are the limits of military operations? What strength does international criminal law possess in the face of such interventions? How effective is the international regime.
