Chapter Eight: War, Terrorism, and Civil Liberties
11-9-09
JUST WAR THEORY (O’Brien):
Jus ad bellum (the right to war): Proposals to justify the use of force in a particular type of situation.
”Is the US invasion of Iraq war justified?” Is the US invasion of Iraq war justified?”Is the US invasion of Iraq war justified?”
War is Just in the following cases:
A) Competent authority declares war for a public purpose
B) Just cause, which can take place in 2 places
1. Defensive war, which is always just
2. Offensive war, to protect human rights
3. Proportionality, cost of war has to be worth what you get out of it (measured in human
life, international reputation, military equipment, natural resources, etc.)
C) Right intention
a. Object of war is to create everlasting peace
b. You want to treat your enemies charitably like human beings. Just disarm the soldier,
not bomb the shit of out the country
Jus in bello(the right in war): Considers the justice of particular types of actions within a war, whether or
not the war itself was justified.
<Is it justifiable to drop bombs on civilian areas during that war?”Is the US invasion of Iraq war justified?”
A) Principle of Proportion= military means have to be proportionate to military ends.
Remember to treat enemies with respect. When soldiers drop their weapons in the
beginning it is not justified to shoot them dead then because it will be easier and cheaper.
Keep them as prisoners of war and respect their humanity.
B) *War can be just and include unjust acts. Similarly, a war can be unjust and include no
unjust acts.
C) Principle of Discrimination, or Principle of Noncombatant Immunity= If you are not part of
the war effort, you are not allowed to be killed. You cannot shoot a medic, for example.
Medics will aid everyone.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Thelogica)
1. The authority of the sovereign by whose command the war is to be waged
2. A just cause is required, namely that those who are attacked, should be attacked because they
deserve it
3. Necessary that the belligerents should have a rightful intention, so that they intend the
advancement of good, or avoidance of evil
PREEMPTIVE WARS: (Justifiability of war)
We must strike first, to destroy those adversaries who pose a serious risk of attacking us first with
Weapons of Mass Destruction.
