Compliance with the Norm of Noncombatant Immunity: The Case of Iraq.

The article determines the extent of U.S. compliance with the norm of noncombatant immunity in Iraq. Evidence and analyses presented here show that the U.S. complies with the norm of noncombatant immunity in Iraq at a much higher level than critics of the war often claim. This high level of compliance stems from strategic and organizational cultures that served as the bases of political decisions and behavior in the battlefield. It is concluded that the norm of noncombatant immunity is not enough to eliminate civilian war casualties.