A just war is defined as a war that is deemed as morally or theologically justifiable. One individual who shares this view is St. Thomas Aquinas, a man of theology studies, and someone with his own conditions on just war. Aquinas believes that there are three conditions that need to be met for a war to be justified. First, someone who has authority must wage war. Second, those who are attacked must be deserving of this war. Lastly, a war is only justified if it benefits the citizens. In my opinion, the U.S involvement in dealing with ISIS meets the criteria of a just war. The death of Zarqauwi in 2006 caused the awakening of Islamic State in Iraq. In the year 2013, ISIS began focusing on the split between Shia-led government and Sunni …show more content…
Thomas Aquinas. The three conditions for waging a justified war is that war must be waged by authority. Aquinas says that, “It is not the business of a private individual to declare war, because he can seek for redress.” (Aquinas 484) This means that a country or individual in power must declare war because if anyone were to declare war it could be out of vanity and revenge. It would be for personal gain. Next, a war is justified by a just cause. This means that a war must have a substantial reason for it such as moral conflict or mistreatment of citizens. This is supported by quote,“When a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects.”(Aquinas 485) Lastly, a war is justified only when the outcome will benefit the people, or it is for good intentions. “Wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement, or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace, of punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good.”(Aquinas 485) According to the conditions made by Aquinas the United States are justified in waging war on ISIS. Under the first condition, authority must wage war. Therefore,The United States President has the authority to wage war. A just reason is needed to wage war. ISIS has illegally obtained lethal weaponry. “ They also have captured…trucks manufactured for the United States Military.” (What is Islamic State?) Another reason the U.S is justified is that ISIS is gaining support
Another principle of just war is reasonable chance of success, these principle advices nations not to resort to war when they see the results will be futile. For example if a small nation is attacked by a greater nation, it should not opt to go to war since it has no chance of success. Such a nation needs to do nothing and hope to make use of diplomatic resolution in the future.
Before waging a war, it is always a good idea to think of what the possible outcome could be in the situation; to look ahead before making an unalterable, life-changing move. In many cases, different people, not just religious, think of the Just War Theory as a plausible cause to take a look at before sending troops to fight a war that deem not necessary to be fought. In the fall of 2001, September 11, it was a day in infamy, a day that will always be remembered. Terrorist members attacked the United States through different tactics, and led to an almost never ending difference between the nations. Just War is the theory that war must have a just cause, which means force may be used only to correct a grave, public evil. It must also have the right intention, which means that force may be used only for that purpose, only to correct a wrong doing. It must have legitimate authority: only public authorities and officers have the ability to wage the war. It must have comparative justice which means that the goods must outweigh the bads, no matter how bad the other side hurt you. The probability of success must weigh in to it. How it will be effected overall- how much destruction is expected, how the goods are weighed out by the bads, etc. And finally, is it a last resort. That being said, force can only be used after there have been peaceful alternatives. All of that being said, the question of the United States being sent
There are many questions surrounding the topic of war. Should we fight? How do we win? Why are we fighting? The most debatable question of all is if the war is considered just.
than Russia so that there is not an unnecessary onslaught. The fourth subcategory for declaring a just war is to have a right intention. An example of going to war over a right intention would be to correct a suffered wrong, an example of this would be an event happening like Pearl Harbor. A right intention cannot be used for purely a material gain. The next criteria for declaring a just war is to use proportionality. Proportionality is using a similar sized force or attack strategy as your opponent. An example of this would be if the United States and Mexico decided to go to war against each other and there has just been small arms fire at the border. As long as one force is not going “overkill” or dropping nukes on a country that does not
Regan explains that just war theorists have developed two major ideologies to understand the just war conduct. First, the principle of discrimination that just warriors may directly target people participating in the enemy nations wrongdoing but should not target other enemy nationals. "The enemy nation's wrongdoing justifies the victim nation's use of military force will necessarily involve targeting enemy personal engaged in the wrongdoing (Regan, pp 88)." The principle of discrimination requires military combatants to wage carefully the effects of their actions in general people. It is very important notion that Regan explained about ordinary civilians because many conflict, civilians become a victim from both side. The principle of discrimination
Since American troops left Iraq, ISIS “has waged an increasingly powerful terrorist-guerilla campaign against the Shi’ite population and the central Iraqi government” (“The Historical Roots and Stages in the Development of ISIS”). The withdrawal of the American forces from Iraq in 2011 created a security vacuum in the military, allowing ISIS to gather strength and rebuild its terrorist campaign against Iraqi government and the Shi’ite population. They wanted to create civil war between the Sunnis and the Shi’ites (two Islamic groups). By doing this, they could establish their own Islamic group into all of Iraq. ISIS then instituted many attacks (including suicide bombings) to apply pressure to these groups.
Just war theory includes the justification of the how and why that wars are fought. The justification of war can be either viewed from a theoretical or historical perspective. The theoretical aspect regards justifying war in an ethical manner and the specific forms that combat may or may not involve. The historical aspect, or the just war tradition," deals with the rules or agreements that have been applied to wars throughout time. Ethics examine institutional agreements for their philosophical coherence as well as to inquire about whether aspects of the conventions should be altered.
The equation of dealing with terrorism on an ethical level is complicated by its components not connected to an official state. Just War theory sets a list of checkpoints before a just war can be declared (Snauwaert 2004). This list is known as the Jus ad Bellum and is comprises, but not limited to: just cause, right authority, right intention, proportionality, reasonable hope of success, and last resort (Snauwaert 2004).
Just war theory consist of 3 principles are Jus ad bellum, Jus in Bello, and Jus post bellum. The first theory in just war is Jus ad bellum. Jean Elshstain’s book, Just War Theory perfectly details the standards of just war (Just War Theory) . Jus ad bellum is the consideration of war being right to enter. In jus ad bellum there are sub principles that should always be taken
The legitimate defense of a nation and the responsibility of the Security Council to take actions in the course of maintaining peace within its areas of influence. With the establishment of United Nations and the modernization of war and its materials; the theories and doctrines of the past also needed to evolve. The modern Just war theory in composed of two principles: jus ad bellum, the right to conduct war, and jus in bello, the correct conduct within war. Each principle also has its own set of criteria to follow. Jus ad bellum contains six: Just cause, right intention, proper authority and public declaration, last resort, probability of success, and proportionality. (Orend, 2006)
Typically, theories of what contitutes a just war include several different criteria. These can be split into categories: those concerned with becoming involved in the war and those that are concerned with actions during the war. More recently there has been the added consideration of what is done following the war (how the triumphant nation treats its opponents once they've been beaten.) (Wikipedia)
America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to many smaller branches of terror groups to form. ISIL grouped as a small organization who pledged their allegiance to Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaeda. In ISIL’s early days it was not a huge organization with swaths of land, it was dedicated in getting U.S.
ISIS which is also known by other names such as ISIL or the Islamic State, arised around 1999 in Iraq as a group of extreme Sunni Muslim Jihadists. Extreme jihadism is the practice of extremely agressive interpretations of the Jihad and of Islamic fundamentalism. Though every muslim somewhat follows their own Jihad , this group has taken it to another level both believing it is right to kill and behead in the name of god. After Americas invasion of Iraq was over , and with the neighboring civil war in Syria , the brutal group has been able to gain alot of power in the past couple years and seems to be gaining even more now.
There must be a just cause when resorting to war. This can imply either self-defence actions or be fought in order to provide humanitarian aid to the victims of aggression.
It justifies when one can wage a war against an unjust enemy and justifies when one can occupy a hostile nation. Lisa Cahill, an American ethicist and professors states; “Just War Theory allows violence under certain conditions but attempts to limit it.” Therefore, the Just War Theory was created in attempt to limit the use of violence. The only time violence is just, according to the Just War Theory, is when a nation state has been violently attacked. In a BBC article, journalist Joe Boyle states that “the idea of just war has thus been shackled to the UN charter’s concept of self-defence.”