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Rules of Engagement (ROE) standardize conduct in war situations, allowing for effective military operations and coordinated policy. Key concerns include when and against whom force should be used, and the extent of force. Type I errors limit force and prevent goals, while type II errors involve excessive force. Examples include the UNAMIR crisis in Rwanda and the Iraq war.
Rules of Engagement (ROE) determine when, where and how to use the force. They are valuable in that they standardize the rules of conduct in war situations. This standardization not only helps the military operate more effectively, but also allows non-military government officials to coordinate policy and strategic planning, as rules are formulated on a number of realistic scenarios.
There are a few key concerns underpinning military rules of engagement. The main one is the circumstances around which force should be used. Other concerns are against whom military force should be demonstrated and the extent of force that should be displayed.
Also, there are two types of errors that can occur with rules. The first, known as Type I, occurs when the amount of force that can be displayed is limited to the point where it prevents goals from being achieved. Excessive force is known as a type II error.
An example of a type I error is the crisis faced by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR). Present in Rwanda from 1993 to 1996 and composed mainly of Belgian soldiers, UNAMIR intended to implement the Arusha Accords to stabilize peace between the two ethnic groups in Rwanda, Hutu and Tutsi. At the start of the civil war between the groups, however, UNAMIR troops, due to restrictions within the UN charter regarding the rules of engagement and the peaceful purpose of the mission, had to surrender their weapons to the rebel forces while they were besieged by fire for more than two days. Instead of restoring peace, the United Nations could not prevent the Rwandan genocide as it faced a shortage of troops. Belgium withdrew its troops to avoid further international embarrassment.
A type II error is evident in the Iraq war that began in March 2003. As US soldiers continued to fight insurgents, even after they ousted Saddam Hussein’s regime, the rules became more and more ambiguous. Those used by insurgents serve one purpose: to prevent a sense of security that could arise from the newly formed Iraqi government. As a result, they have used tactics such as shooting unarmed civilians, including children, and suicide bombings.
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