Man, I have to got to start spending more time on Owen's site. Owen and I agreeing on an issue is about as common as matter and anti-matter co-existing. Still, he does come up with some interesting stuff (that is, when he's not being a "Kill the all, let God sort them out" Republican). This site, f'rinstance, is an examination of Just War theory from a Catholic perspective.
Catholics for a Just War are faithful Catholics who are concerned about going to war, but believe it is the last resort and in this situation just. The Just War Doctrine is the standard used by leaders to determine when war is justified. The Just War Doctrine defines both the necessary conditions for going to war and the considerations while prosecuting the war.
While the fact that I am no fan of the Catholic Church should come as a surprise to no one who spends any time at all at TPRS, I do honor and subscribe to the concept of just war. St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, has provided the bedrock for Just war theory in his Summa Theologica. It's a sound basis for those looking to create a solid definition of just war.
Way back when, I actually began researching a book on Just War theory. Then it dawned on me that perhaps three people would read a book like that, and my enthusiasm for the project quickly waned. What I learned along the way, however, left an indelible impression on me. Simply put, just war theory can be described as follows:
Historically the threshold question of permission has required:
- A just cause
- The decision is to be made by the proper authority with the right intention
- There must be a reasonable hope of success
- The expected good will outweigh the expected evil (overall proportionality)
- War must be the last resort waged for the goal of peace
The question of limitation in turn requires:
- Discrimination; avoidance of direct, intentional harm to noncombatants
- Proportionality of means; avoidance of needless destruction to achieve justified ends
As a Buddhist (though some might described me as "lapsed"), I have always struggled with the idea of pacifism. I realize that war and violence are never good things, but I am realistic enough to understand that sometimes evil, in order to be defeated, must be met with sufficient force. The key is that the evil must be idenitifiable, the response must be proportional, and violence must always be a last resort.
The case of Iraq presents a good test for Just War theory.
- Is it a just cause? If you frame it in terms of removing an evil despot from power and removing Iraq's capability to produce and use weapons of mass destruction, I believe so.
- Is the decision to be made by the proper authority with the right intention? Proper authority? Yes, I believe the President and the Congress are that. The right intention? This is where it gets murky. I'll leave that question to people with sharper axes to grind.
- Is there a reasonable hope of success? I don't think anyone doubts this country's ability to smoke the Iraqi Army, or what passes for it.
- Is this war an exercise in proportinality? If the results are framed in terms of making Iraq amenable to democracy, I believe the answer is yes. If we're looking to make Iraq the 51st state, the answer might be different.
- Is war the last resort? I believe it is, though listening to most Americans might leave you with a different impression. If you're a Toby Keith fan, war is probably the only resort.
Catholic Just War does an excellent job of laying out the theological and philosophical groundwork necessary to understand Just War theory. For anyone trying to make up their mind about whether to support a war against Iraq, this is an excellent place to begin framing your arguments.
Speaking as one individual, I feel that we are at the point where a war against Iraq, if undertaken now, would be just. It's not a black and white decision for me, though. While I am and will remain deeply suspicious of President Bush's motives (Saddam tried to kill my Daddy), I believe that there is compelling reason to go to war. Given the degree of evil that characterizes the regime of Saddam Hussein, I believe the balance has tilted in favor of war.
Having been an officer in the US Army, I believe and know that no one hates war more than the men who will have to fight it. I also believe that few nations are as ready for war as the US is for this conflict. Perhaps it IS finally time for the balloon to go up....
