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Iraq--Just War?

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Iraq--Just War?
Do you believe the invasion of Iraq successfully meets the principles of a just war? A just war is a war that “can only be waged as a last resort. All nonviolent options must be exhausted before the use of force is justified… can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered… must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants” (What Is A Just War?). The war in Iraq was not used as an only remaining option; it was not used as a means to retaliate for an action imposed against us; and it was not did not differentiate between combatants and civilians. I believe the war in Iraq should therefore be considered unjust.
The United States did not begin this war as a last resort. Parko states, “senior people in the Bush Administration had already drawn up plans to invade Iraq before 9/11 ever happened” (Parko). Also, a wrong must be have been suffered. Many people feel that 9/11 was a wrong done unto us, however, the Taliban, not Iraq, imposed that wrong upon the United States. And finally, in a just war, “innocent people and non-combatants should not be harmed” (BBC). However, Parko states, “Over 50,000 Iraqi civilians have already been killed in this extended US military occupation of Iraq. Under the conditions of guerilla warfare, our soldiers cannot distinguish between combatants and non- combatants and innocent Iraqis are paying the price with their lives” (Parko). The war in Iraq has killed many innocent people, it has no justification, and was not used as a final option. It has not satisfied the criteria to be considered a just war. Works Cited

"What Is A Just War?." Religion & Ethics-Ethical Issues. BBC. 23 Oct. 2008 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/just/for.shtml>.

Parko, Joe. "Standing Against an Unjust War." The Nation. 5 July 2006. 23 October 2008. <http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060717/parko>.

Cited: "What Is A Just War?." Religion & Ethics-Ethical Issues. BBC. 23 Oct. 2008 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/just/for.shtml>. Parko, Joe. "Standing Against an Unjust War." The Nation. 5 July 2006. 23 October 2008. <http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060717/parko>.

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