There is a lot of discussion about Syria, the use of chemical weapons and wether it would be just for the US to take military action. The issues are multifaceted and can be confusing. Here is some helpful analysis by John Stonestreet of Breakpoint that will allow you to come to your own (reasoned) convictions.
Just War theory helps Christians think about war within a Christian framework. From Augustine to Aquinas to the Reformers, Christian thinkers have generally agreed that for a war to be just, it must meet the following conditions:
The cause itself must be just—as well as the intention behind going to war. War must be waged by a legitimate authority. Force used in war must be proportionate to the threat and must not target non-combatants. War must be a last resort, and there must be a reasonable chance of success.Let’s look at each of these in regards to Syria. And folks, I think you’ll see with me that there are no easy answers here.
First, is the cause just? The Obama administration is making the case that it must act to stop the Assad regime from using chemical weapons. That certainly does seem like a just cause.
However, as Gerard Powers at the Institute for Peace Studies at Notre Dame writes, just cause is “generally limited to defense against aggression.” In Syria, as in most civil wars, both sides are aggressors. In Syria, we would be taking sides, not acting against aggression.
That brings us to the question of intention. Sen. John McCain added language to a Senate resolution that would commit the U.S. to changing the momentum on the battlefield in favor of the rebels, which is highly problematic from a just war perspective.
Legitimate authority poses another tricky question. The administration points to the 1925 Geneva Protocol against chemical weapons and the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention signed by 189 countries. However, as the Washington Post points out, there is no enforcement mechanism in these documents. And many countries, friend and foe alike, are questioning the legality of a U.S. attack without U.N. approval. (Of course, if the U.S. were acting in self-defense—which we aren’t—the U.N. wouldn’t be an issue.)
Now proportionality…(read the rest here)
Here are three other perspectives on the Syria conflict.
For a very helpful book on this and other questions pertaining to “just war,” see War, Peace, and Christianity: Questions and Answers From A Just-War Perspective by J. Daryl Charles and Timothy J. Demy
Miss a podcast? We’ve got you covered! Click here