“The war in the gulf is not a Christian war, a Jewish war or a Muslim war. It is a just war.” (George Bush to National Religious Broadcasters Convention in February 1991)
Article looks at just-war theory, which seeks to limit the purpose and conduct of war.
1. A just war must be declared by a legitimate authority.
2. The cause must be just.
3. It must be fought with the right intentions.
4. It must be fought in a proper manner.
5. It must be started only as a last resort.
The theory is complicated and hard to enforce, such as what is a last resort? There can always be another delaying conference. Application is made to 1990- 1991 Kuwait-Iraq-U.S. war.
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Another version of Just War criteria [from Baptist Press, 3/5/03]:
— Just cause, as a defensive war;
— Just intent, for liberation, not destruction or subjugation;
— Last resort, when other means have been exhausted;
— Legitimate authority (in America, with the approval of Congress);
— Limited and achievable goals;
— Noncombatant immunity, with every effort made to protect civilians;
— Proportionality, in which the benefit outweighs the cost.
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Letter to Newsweek editor on 3/11/91:
You suggest that just-war doctrine was born when Augustine “sought to reconcile the Christian commandment to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ with the soldier’s duty to kill.” Yet “Love your neighbor as yourself” is neither original to Christianity nor altogether distinctive to it. Jesus was merely quoting from the Old Testament book of Leviticus (19:18). What is uniquely Christian is Jesus’ commandment to “love your enemies … Do good to them that hate you. Resist not evil. If any man will take away your coat, let him have your cloak too.” If Augustine can reconcile war with that, he’s not merely a theologian – he’s a magician.
Harry Ruja, La Mesa, Calif.