The Principles of the Just War Doctrine and the Invasion of Iraq

By Roberto Miguel Rodriguez

Probably no other contemporary war since Vietnam has been more controversial than the recent invasion of Iraq in March 2003 by a US-led coalition. The coalition was formed by some 40 nations, although the only countries that provided troops in addition to the United States and the United Kingdom were Australia, Poland and Denmark, and six of the members of the coalition were such small countries that they did not have an army. This ‘Coalition of the willing’ invaded Iraq on the mistaken belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and was helping terrorist organizations including Al Qaeda. The Coalition also argued that Iraq was terrorizing its population and that the invasion would bring democracy to Iraq and eventually to the Middle East. In this paper, the invasion of Iraq is analyzed according to the principles of the just war doctrine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781105124259

Book preview

The Principles of the Just War Doctrine and the Invasion of Iraq

The Principles of the Just War Doctrine and the Invasion of Iraq

Roberto M. Rodriguez

Copyright © 2011 Lulu Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

IBSN:  978-1-105-12425-9

Table of Contents

The Principles of the Just War Doctrine and the Invasion of Iraq

Introduction

Right Intention

War as a Last Resort

Concluding Comments

References

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Probably no other contemporary war since Vietnam has been more controversial than the recent invasion of Iraq in March 2003 by a US-led coalition. The coalition was formed by some 40 nations, although the only countries that provided troops in addition to the United States and the United Kingdom were Australia, Poland and Denmark, and six of the members of the coalition were such small countries that they did not have an army. [1] This ‘Coalition of the willing’ invaded Iraq on the mistaken belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and was helping terrorist organizations including Al Qaeda. The Coalition also argued that Iraq was terrorizing its population and that the invasion would bring democracy to Iraq and eventually to the Middle East. In this paper, the invasion of Iraq is analyzed according to the principles of the just war doctrine. The inescapable conclusion is that the invasion did not meet the necessary requirements to be declared a just war. In other words, there was no moral justification for the use of force in Iraq.

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[1] Dale T. Snauwaert (2004). The Bush Doctrine and Just War Theory. The Online Journal of Peace