Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Quote and Comment
Andrew Sullivan had this quote up on his site
I agree with the sentiment expressed in this quote but I have a concern with the opening:
To draw upon John Robb and especially Rupert Smith, we have entered a time where most wars are wars of choice and not wars of survival. A war of survival permits greater violence and greater error in the application of that violence. A war of choice are much less likely to be just and are much more likely to land in shades of moral greyness. It is possible to be fighting more than war in the same space and time, with one being just and the other not. The Afghan War provides us with an example. Consider an insurgent whose goal is to driven NATO from Afghanistan, she is fighting for national liberation and possibly also against the corruption of the Kabul government. Her cause would, arguably be just. The NATO soldier who is hunting the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces behind the 9/11 attacks is also engaged in a just war. Is it just for the NATO soldier to kill the liberator? This assumes that the liberator is not a member of either the Taliban or Al Qaeda.
It is morally grey and hinges upon status of the occupying forces and the legitimacy of the Afghan government.
It is not a "moral compromise" to shoot an enemy combatant in wartime. It is just, assuming a just war. However, the mass slaughter of civilians that Barnett cites aboves is not "justifiable". It too is not a moral compromise. It is simply and solely evil: a "crime against man and God" according to the Church. Barnett is calling a largely religious and prolife readership to enthusiastically accept grave evil. He is, in short, a false prophet,
I agree with the sentiment expressed in this quote but I have a concern with the opening:
It is not a "moral compromise" to shoot an enemy combatant in wartime. It is just, assuming a just war.
To draw upon John Robb and especially Rupert Smith, we have entered a time where most wars are wars of choice and not wars of survival. A war of survival permits greater violence and greater error in the application of that violence. A war of choice are much less likely to be just and are much more likely to land in shades of moral greyness. It is possible to be fighting more than war in the same space and time, with one being just and the other not. The Afghan War provides us with an example. Consider an insurgent whose goal is to driven NATO from Afghanistan, she is fighting for national liberation and possibly also against the corruption of the Kabul government. Her cause would, arguably be just. The NATO soldier who is hunting the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces behind the 9/11 attacks is also engaged in a just war. Is it just for the NATO soldier to kill the liberator? This assumes that the liberator is not a member of either the Taliban or Al Qaeda.
It is morally grey and hinges upon status of the occupying forces and the legitimacy of the Afghan government.
