But against dispersed irregular forces, they may well be more dangerous to those firing them.

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Much of Colombia is uninhabited, and much of that territory is in the hands of antigovernment irregular forces.

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When it came to balancing this priority against the interests of active participants in conflict, especially irregular forces who for tactical reasons choose to go "underground" and not distinguish themselves from civilians, the Geneva Conventions clearly favored the non-combatant.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | The Senate Should Send The PLO A Message: There��s No Hijacking International Law

For this reason, of fundamental importance to humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions limited combatant status and prisoner-of-war protections only to those irregular forces that (1) wear uniforms, (2) carry their arms openly in all military operations, and (3) obey the laws of war.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | The Senate Should Send The PLO A Message: There��s No Hijacking International Law

Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) maintains that all "irregular" forces must disarm and disband if the territory is to heal its divisions and build a new civil society.

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"Irregular or special forces are increasingly calling the shots, " he said.

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On the afternoon of March 26th, just six days into the war, he stood on the outskirts of Najaf with Rick Atkinson, the journalist and military historian, and observed combat involving irregular Iraqi fedayeen forces.

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Bob Scales (Ret.) tells Robert Siegel that the enemy in Iraq has evolved, even as U.S. forces have improved their defenses against irregular attackers operating anonymously in small units and employing suicide and roadside bombs.

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Mr. Karzai was a fierce opponent of plans to establish the Afghan Local Police irregular, community-based fighting units that are trained and mentored by U.S. Special Operations Forces.

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