WAR Some Unfinished Thoughts

I am going to make a simple statement: “There is no such thing as a just war”.

The single most fundamental principal of justice to to treat others as one wishes to be treated.

War consists of the imposition of an external will through the destruction, or forcible compulsion, of individuals, and seizure, or outright destruction, of private property and social infrastructure. The very nature of war then rejects fundamental justice. To say that war is by nature unjust is not the same as saying that war is always unnecessary.

War being unjust and antisocial, we as libertarians must ask under what conditions wars may prove necessary. Just offhand I and see at least 4.

A) A foreign government has attacked our people or our infrastructure without warning. Japan W.W.II

B) A foreign government has declared war upon us. Germany W.W.II

C) A foreign government is harboring pirates, or terrorists (land pirates), who have attacked our people or infra structure, and refuses to turn them over to us, and refuses to oust their organization/gang from their territory. Afghanistan

D) An ally of ours with whom we have formal treaties of mutual assistance is under attack. I believe the war powers act only gives the President authority to honor our obligations for 90 days and then, I believe that there must be a formal declaration of war.

Now I believe that we should not engage in acts of war unless there is a political consensus that they are appropriate. The constitution provides a mechanism requiring a congressional vote. This is to assure that political responsibility is faced and shouldered right up front.

You will note that I do not include the position that the world community asked us to go kick butt. I think that war is so serious a matter that the suggestion or permission of others is not a sufficient reason for engaging in the activity. If we are going to undertake war, I believe that it must be because our direct interests are threatened.

Sometimes, we will believe that situation (c ) has been invoked, and we will be wrong. ex:Iraq. In that event I believe that it is our duty to make amends for the damage we unnecessarily caused by helping to reestablish stable civil authority, and restoring civilian infra structure.

Just some Unfinished thoughts.