Applicability of the Code of Conduct in a Terrorist Hostage Situation

The U.S. Code of Conduct adopted in 1957 was written based on the experiences gained from U.S. involvement in previous major wars. Its intent was to provide a framework by which American soldiers could pattern their conduct if taken prisoner. Today, U.S. military personnel are facing a new form of warfare which was not anticipated during the Codes formulation, and therefore, unaddressed. This new form of warfare is terrorism -- a war in which the soldier may well face captivity but experience conditions and demands which are far different from those faced by the historical prisoner of war POW. To determine if the U.S. military Code of Conduct provides adequate guidance for U.S. military personnel to model their conduct by when held hostage by terrorists. Research into the taking of hostages reveals similarities between terrorists and highlights three different situations military personnel may face. The coincidental hostage situation displays few similarities to that of a POW. A hostage will not normally face interrogation or prolonged imprisonment. The intentional hostage situation is closely related to a kidnap for ransom but can involve interrogation directed towards supporting the kidnappers ideological goals.