I couldn't resist this one
Chanman you beat me to it on the para troopers, there are many myths regarding the laws of armed conflict. Much like the myths regarding weapons law, start up a conversation about prohibited weapons in company lines and it will amaze you how many law degrees pop up.
Generally speaking force shall be reasonable in intensity, duration, and magnitude but still defeat the threat. Things such as caliber are rarely listed in any schedule to restrict its use for certain purposes. This is primarily reserved for munition type such as chemical or biological.
As far as the "war" one could argue that Afghanistan is much like Vietnam which is classified as a "conflict" because there is no declaration of war. It is definitely not "peace keeping" which is intervening between two different factions usually under a blue beret. This was an invasion after an unprovoked attack in 2001 with Operation Enduring Freedom and a continued occupation under the invitation of the newly established government of Afghanistan against an insurgency.With over 100 000 troops in theatre across the country and about 70 000 dead on both sides I would say this is a war no matter what political slogan we attach to it.
