Just war theory is a religious and philosophical theory which is based on four major principles or tenets. The four major tenets are last resort, just course, just authority and the right intention. In just cause tenet, the use of force is morally justified and is the only option when encountering a real danger. Its application is necessary where the innocent are in danger or where to preserve the rights of the humanity. Any Nation which wants to use this tenet must justify threat the counterpart has or a serious issue which poses a danger or threat to humanity. In the Just authority, legitimate authorizes the use of Force. In this tenet, the justification of the use of force must be done by authorized body whether the counterpart is in danger or not. It means that in this tenet, even if the injustices prevail or the right of the humanity is under fire, the individual have to obtain a go head from the relevant authorities to continue with the action of deference (BBC Ethics Guide, 2013).
In the right intention, ethical consideration is prioritized. For instance, the use of force is justified only if it’s ethically right intentionally. Consideration of the right intention means that peace and reconciliation are all considered, it also means that there is no intent of destruction or imposing any condition on the counterpart. Last on the list is the last resort tenet. In this tenet, the use of force is justified if there is no any other way the nation can achieve justice. In this tenet, force only comes after all the peaceful action has been tried and is exhausted.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Just cause in US invention in Iraq
The attack on Iraq by the USA was for self-defense which in simple terms means anticipated counter attack from the enemy. The USA saw Iraq as potential threats to the western countries since it was allegedly involved in weapon manufacturing for Mass Destruction. The manufacturing of these weapons and the potential threat this country had to Americans and other country was justification to use a self-defense attack on this country. However, this strike was ethically wrong according to Just War theory since all peaceful alternatives were not exploited.
Just/Competent Authority in U. S. Invasion of Iraq
The use of force by the USA on the Iraq was authorized by a rightful USA body. The government in the USA is an elected body hence has the right to authorize such action. It means that a legitimate authorization was involved in the invention as per the just war. On this case, many issues and claims as well as disagreement has been aired. For instance, the BBC news in 2003 claimed that it is only United Nation which has the power to authorize such case. If this channel is followed, then the Iraq invention by the USA was wrong (BBC Politics News, 2003)
Right Intention in U. S. Invasion of Iraq
The USA intention was to invade Iraq and destroy the mass destruction weapons which they thought were being made in Iraq; this was a right intention ethically. However, other claims have been aired that this was not the intention of Americans, the critique claims that intention was to invade the oil in this country. If this claim is true, then the attack was wrong as asserted by Dorbolo (2011).
Last Resort
Tony Blair claims that the Iraq government was given twelve years to surrender their weapons and they did not comply. In conjunction with Britain, other resolutions were suggested to Iraq, but they were all declined. If this is the case, then the attack was justified and ethically right.
References
BBC Ethics Guide (2013).What is a 'Just Cause'? Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/just/cause_1.shtml
BBC Politics News (2003). Could this be a 'Just' War?. Retrieved from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2724019.stm
Dorbolo, J. (2011). Just War Theory. Retrieved from: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/just_war_theory/criteria_intro.html
