Introduction: The Illusion of Infinite Deferral
A persistent legal and operational question arises when tracing wartime liability up the chain of command:
The Ultimate Stop: Supreme Political and Military Leadership
The chain of command is not an infinite loop; it is a pyramid with a definitive apex:
Intermediate Discretion and Tactical Accountability
Intermediate commanders—such as generals, colonels, and battalion commanders—cannot escape liability by claiming they merely transmitted strategic goals from above:
The Doctrine of Command Responsibility: Omission as a Crime
To prevent commanders from escaping liability by claiming ignorance of their subordinates’ actions, international law enforces the doctrine of Command Responsibility:
Conclusion: Proportional Liability at the Apex of Power
The chain of command does not dilute responsibility; it concentrates it:
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