Term Paper Abstract
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Introduction
On the morning of September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked and crashed in the name of terror. They resulted in the deaths of over 3000 people that were residents of 115 countries. A few hours later, the president addressed the nation and committed the United States to the war on terror, which involved military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Three and a half years later, there are over 1,700 American troops dead and 11,000 wounded. In addition, over 30,000 Iraqi military and an estimated 20-100,000 civilians have been killed. The war was unofficially declared over on May of 2003, struggle for democracy in Iraq continues.
The war in Iraq provides serious challenges for political theorists as well as students of international politics who attempt to apply traditional notions of Just War theory to the changing reality of modern warfare. In particular, the premptive nature of the United States' attack in Iraq calls into question many of these notions.
Hypothesis
There are two issues of primary concern that will be examined. First is whether or not the preemptive nature of the beginning of the Iraq War violates the tenets of Just War theory. Secondly, there is the considerations of what this War will have on the international relations of the United States, and of Iraq. Such a conflict cannot help but have massive repercussions on world affairs.
It is my belief that the issue of preemption is more complicated than it seems at first glance. There was not a direct attack made on the United States in the traditional sense, but the ways in which wars are waged on countries are changing. Particularly in the age of the United States as the only superpower, attacks are much more likely to take the form of a dagger in the back rather that an upfront engagement. In hindsight however, things are always clearer, and it seems that Iraq did not pose a clear and present danger as the Bush Administration proposed.
As far as the results of this conflict are concerned, it is difficult to say. The future is promised to no one, and what is true today might not end up that way. Public support of the War and the United States continued presence in Iraq here and overseas is generally poor. Many people wonder if the invasion and democratization of Iraq by the United States is merely a staging point for similar such actions in the future. Countries such as Syria and Iran are also threatened by the idea of a democratic and secularized Iraq.
Approach and Methodology
There is no shortage of references on this subject. The evidence has been in every newspaper and television newscast for almost the last five years. Academics have done their part as well in this regard. In particular, the examination of the justifications of the decision to go to war has been quite intense. As for the political theory of Just War, there are sources old and new. From St. Thomas Aquinas to Michael Walzer, both classical and contemporary thinkers are consulted.
For the organization of the term paper, there will first be an examination of the tenets of Just War theory, followed by a discussion of how the Iraq War situation relates to notions of Just War. To conclude the first part of the paper, there will be a short proposal on how Just War theory might be re-examined in the face of changing modern conflicts.
The second section will take a look at International relations perspective of the War. The first part of this section will be the effects of the war on the United States, both here and abroad. The second section will be the effects on Iraq and the Middle East as a whole. |
Twenty-five years ago this day, at about 5:30 in the morning, I came screaming into this world. I was about two months early, scheduled to be born on the fourth of July. There have been many bumps and bruises along the way, both physical and emotional, but it seems that I have made it half way through my twenties, which is supposedly my first decade of adult life. Took me a while, but it looks like I'll finally finish being an undergraduate. Many thought that this would become a career of sorts after a fashion, and I am planning on proving them wrong. If for no other reason that a man that is less financially stable at 25 than he was at 18 should hopefully have something to show for it.
I've been in love with four women in my life, and lived with only one. That one gave me my fill for a while, and I'd say I'm a lot less likely to get married now than I was when I started this decade of life. One of my best friends in high school swore and be damned that I would be the first of us to get married. Now it would seem that I am to be the last, since she has two kids and a husband to boot. The world is in interesting place, and worth fighting for, and it would suck to do so alone. My "little" brother David, only 23, is getting ready to have his second in June, perhaps days before or after his first, and has about a month ago celebrated his first wedding anniversary. It's a bit trippy to think that just about everyone I know possesses more of the trappings of adulthood than I.
It seems that I would further indebt myself by going to graduate school, assuming I cannot con some poor institution into paying my way. At the moment, lawyer or teacher seems to be my lot. I truly hope someone offers me some sort of aid package to make the decision a bit easier. Both seem something I would enjoy, and lord knows the world can always use more exemplars of either, I'm just not quite set one way or another at the moment. Perhaps the LSAT and GRE will tell the tale. I would think I would do well or bomb similarly, but you never know.
Anyway, enough 25th birthday musings...good wishes and love to all those in internet land,
Sean |
Finally finished my thesis presentation, and I am happy to say that it was not the great beast that I dreaded it would be. Now all I have to do is write the rest of the bloody thing. Course...I turn 25 in less than a month, so I have something all together new and different to dread.Current Mood:  contemplative |
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Only three weeks left. I'm starting to feel the words coming together in my head. Probably need to get together a week long information dump next week to give me the mass I'll need to make it work, then spend the week after that hammering it out, then the last week practicing it. I have mixed feelings about using visual aids, they have always seemed to me to be a crutch, if you can't keep their attention with what you are saying, then you don't deserve it. Oh well, that's probably just me. Started my Criminal Procedure and the Constitution class the other day. That should be interesting. Going to have to give anoher half dozen oral presentations in that classs. It seems I've been bombarded with the damn things lately. |
So tell me guys what you think:
The War In Iraq: Problems of Just War Theory
Sean Gallagher (Philosophy and Political Science)
Dr. Terry Hall, Faculty Sponsor (Philosophy)
After September 11, 2001, the United States responded with its War on Terror. One of its chief targets was Iraq, which the government said harbored terrorism, and particularly Al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization which claims responsibility for the attacks. The War in Iraq and the War on Terror has brought to light interesting problems for Just War theorists. In my research I have analyzed both traditional Just War founders such as St. Thomas and St. Augustine, as well as current theorists such as James Turner Johnson, Michael Walzer, Michael Novak, George Weigal, and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus. In doing so I have sought to apply their work to:
(1) The principle of legitimate authority as it relates to the international community, particularly the United Nations.
(2) Certain issues of jus post bellum (justice after the war), most notably treatment of prisoners and nation building.
(3) Terrorism and the distinction between combatants and noncombatants.
(4) The proposal of a principle of continual review, which is to say an obligation, based on just war theory under which the reasons of Just Cause are maintained jus bellum (justice during the war). |
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Well, the meeting with the Philosophy Department chair that I had been dreading for over a semester has come and gone, and it seems I am no worse for the experience. Still going to have to take a class over again, which I can't say I am too horribly happy about, but it's a damn sight better than being stuck with a random F on my transcript.
I can't seem to figure out what the hell I want to do. Graduate School for Philosophy and Political Science, law school, or teaching all seem swell on alternating days of the week. My basic plan is to take the GRE and LSAT and see who is willing to give me money, and if no one is, just teach and go for my MLA at UST to get some graduate work under my belt, and get my language requirements in order for the eventual graduate work i want to do in Philosophy. Course there's always the "why don't you get a computer job since you are so good at that" bit that everyone seems so fond of, but that is pretty much low on the totem poll unless CRAZY JOB OF OWN AND PAYtm shows up, which considering the IT industry is still a bit wonky, will not happen.
To anyone that actually cares out there in LJ land, I promise I will update this thing more regularly, and you might just get bloody sick of me during the next week since I'm on Spring Break.
Feb. 25th, 2005 @ 12:11 pm
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| » My Favorite Madman is Dead.... |
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The crazy old bastard, Hunter S. Thompsom killed himself yesterday. For those of you who don't know of him, he was a drunking, raving, lunatic, in every since of the word, and he will be missed. Somedays it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.
Feb. 21st, 2005 @ 10:00 am
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| » Sitting Alone in the Dark.... |
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It is strange how talking to a friend you haven't heard from in a while can get you to take a look at how your own live is doing at the moment. Seeing where you've been, and where you are going. I am writing a thesis on Contemporary Just War Theory and how it relates to the War in Iraq. My research is quickly getting big enough to be for a master's thesis or a good start on a doctor dissertation. I feel like I should stop and just crank out my first draft, but as I read through the many books and scholarly articles I have chosen I cannot shake the feeling that something essential is missing. I already have two major points that I did not have when I started, which I suppose is a good thing. One is a theory I'm borrowing, one seems to be original as far as I can tell. I might have to give my research presentation in April without having finished my thesis, and finish it up during the summer.
I can see ahead where the present phase of my life is going to end. I've been on the same track since 1998. I got more than a bit side-tracked a few times, but I learned much from those little detours, and they did me a lot of good. I wonder now where I will go from here, and what from the previous phase I will take with me. I alternate between anxiety and wonder, as I ponder what the future will bring. For my part, I believe that I pretty much know what I want, but I'll be buggered if I know how I am going to get it. As much as I claim otherwise, I do seem to have managed a bit of control over where my life is going, a rather herculean feat considering how little money I have done it with. Although I have picked up quick a bit of debt along the way, with more to come.
Enough rambling for the moment...I'm not even really sure where I'm going with this anymore. Perhaps I'll be more focused in the morning.
Feb. 7th, 2005 @ 01:10 am
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| » Quote of the Day.... |
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Courtesy of www.somethingpositive.net
"Asshole is not an alternative lifestyle."
Jan. 25th, 2005 @ 05:19 pm
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| » (No Subject) |
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For some reason I just haven't been posting at all. I guess I really haven't had anything I felt that was worth sharing. Perhaps all the mental and physical busyness of last semester just drained me. I seem to have done well because of it, and got straight a's as a result. After two years away from college, I wasn't really sure how it was going to work out when I got back.
I started getting knee deep on my thesis again. I wish I had a couple hundred dollars and a place away from it all to read all these books I keep finding on my topic. My list at the moment is over 100 books and journal articles. It just seems like this huge insurmountable pile. I think I am going to have to push back my first draft a month or so and see what happens. I think anything less than two weeks more of reading and researching will be doing myself a disservice i think. On top of that, my history professor from last semester wanted me to see what I could do to try to do on this paper I wrote on the the changing role of the papacy in world affairs for confrence, but I just do not think I'm going to have enough time to manage it. Perhaps I can do something with in during the spring semester sometime.
I've started an investigation to find some sort of financial aid that will exceed the paltry amount the university thinks I need for school. The Perkins loan seems promising, but I don't have any experience with it. Plus and Stafford loans are no go, as are most alternative loans since everyone that I seem to find for a co-signer gets shot down. If anyone out there in livejournal land has any suggestions I would be more than happy to hear them.
Jan. 4th, 2005 @ 06:41 pm
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