text: War Crimes and Enforcement of the Law of Armed Conflict
  8-46. Other laws criminalize acts of torture, attempts to commit torture, and conspiracy to commit torture
  outside the United States when the offender is a U.S. national or is located within the United States (18 U.S.C.
  §2340A). Other relevant provisions of the law allow for the prosecution of:
  * Genocide (18 U.S.C. § 1091);
  * Murder or manslaughter of foreign officials, official guests, or internationally protected persons
  (18 U.S.C. § 1116);
  * Piracy (18 U.S.C. §§ 1651-1661);
  * Terrorism and material support to terrorists (18 U.S.C. §§ 2331-2339D); and
  * Various acts involving biological weapons, chemical weapons, weapons of mass destruction, or
  nuclear weapons (18 U.S.C. §§ 175, 229, 832, 2332a).
  A number of these provisions limit their application to offenses committed within the United States, or by or
  against citizens of the United States; but others, such as piracy, apply regardless of the location of the offense
  or the nationality of the offender or victim(s).
  Prosecution of Civilians, Former Military Members, Prisoners of War, and Enemy Belligerents
  8-47. While the discussion on jurisdiction and venue thus far applies to U.S. Service Members who commit
  war crimes, the next sections discuss U.S. jurisdiction over and venue for trying non-U.S. service members—
  civilians, former military members, enemy POWs, and enemy belligerents.
  Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000
  8-48. The Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000 (MEJA) is a venue statute that allows the U.S.
  government to prosecute individuals who commit certain offenses outside the United States either while
  employed by or accompanying the U.S. Armed Forces outside the United States or while a member of the
  U.S. Armed Forces subject to the UCMJ. Under MEJA, the U.S. Government can assert jurisdiction for
  certain offenses that are not otherwise subject to jurisdiction under U.S. law, including certain offenses
  committed outside the United States by civilians accompanying the U.S. Armed Forces (such as contractors
  and civilian employees) or by persons who were military members at the time of the offense, but have been
  discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or are no longer subject to the UCMJ. Under MEJA, an individual
  falling within either of these two categories is subject to prosecution for an offense committed outside the
  United States if that offense would carry a punishment of more than one year if committed within the special
  maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. MEJA prosecutions are handled by the Department
  of Justice. Although not limited to conduct that constitutes LOAC violations, MEJA allows for criminal
  prosecution of individuals’ conduct that constitutes LOAC violations committed outside the United States.
  Prosecution under MEJA is not limited to U.S. citizens. Foreign nationals employed by or accompanying
  U.S. forces are also subject to prosecution under MEJA with the exception of host nation nationals or a person
  ordinarily resident in the host nation.
  8-49. A crime charged pursuant to MEJA does not need to be a crime under the law of the country where the
  crime was committed. When the conduct violates both the laws of the foreign State and is a qualifying offense
  for MEJA purposes, however, international agreements, such as status of forces agreements, may indicate
  which country has jurisdiction to prosecute the individual.
  8-50. Department of Defense policy requires that all employees or persons accompanying the force outside
  the United States, particularly those who are not nationals of the United States, are informed of the potential
  scope of MEJA (see DODI 5525.11). Knowledge of MEJA and its potential criminal sanctions serves a
  deterrent purpose in helping preserve good order and discipline in military operations outside the United
  States.
  Uniform Code of Military Justice Applicable to Civilians During Military Operations
  8-51. Commanders have disciplinary authority pursuant to the UCMJ over civilians accompanying the
  Armed Forces overseas during military operations. “In time of declared war or a contingency operation,
  persons serving with or accompanying an armed force in the field” are subject to the UCMJ (UCMJ art.
  2(a)(10)). It is DOD policy that the requirement for good order and discipline of the Armed Forces outside
  the United States extends to civilians employed by or accompanying the Armed Forces, and that such persons