PROTOCOL ON BLINDING LASER WEAPONSSenate Consideration of Treaty Document 105-1(C)

Text - Resolution of Ratification: Senate Consideration of Treaty Document 105-1(C)All Information (Except Treaty Text)

As approved:

Resolved, (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein),

SECTION 1. SENATE ADVICE AND CONSENT SUBJECT TO AN UNDERSTANDING AND A DECLARATION

The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Protocol IV), adopted at Vienna on October 13, 1995 (Treaty Doc. 105-1(C)), subject to the understanding of section 2 and the declaration of section 3.

SECTION 2. UNDERSTANDING

The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following understanding, which shall be included in the instrument of ratification:

It is the understanding of the United States of America with respect to Article 2 that any decision by any military commander, military personnel, or any other person responsible for planning, authorizing or executing military action shall only be judged on the basis of that person's assessment of the information reasonably available to the person at the time the person planned, authorized, or executed the action under review, and shall not be judged on the basis of information that comes to light after the action under review was taken.

SECTION 3. DECLARATION

The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration:

This Protocol is self-executing. This Protocol does not confer private rights enforceable in United States courts.