can the just war theory explain the use of force in international
relations, with particular reference to the 2003 gulf war?

---

Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 23 Mar 2004 08:06 PST

Hello Che007,
Just to know better the purpose of your question, do you mean
'explain' as to 'justify' the action of using force on Iraq, and thus
make arguments against it invalid?

---

Clarification of Question by che007-ga on 23 Mar 2004 10:08 PST

I mean: can the 'just war tradition' explain/justify the use of force
in Iraq in 2003, looking at the concepts of force and consent,
international public law, the UN as institutional emodiment of the
laws of war etc. In other words, without taking sides, what should the
theoretical position be?

The following website has links to several pieces on the Catholic
Church's theory of Just War and how this *could* be applied to Iraq:

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/justwar.htm

See in particular the letter to President Bush by the head of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops (the second link).

There is no "correct" application of Just War theory to any given
situation.  You will find more or less persuasive arguments on both
sides of almost any armed aggression.