When is war justified?

[Gooblah]

Simple question, really. The answer may be complex. I just want to know, flat out, when war is justified. For the purposes of this discussion, war will be defined as the invasion of one nation by another with the intent to remove the government or significant institutions of the invaded nation.

My answer:

Spoiler :

When a government is unwilling (not incapable) to protect its citizens and provide for the common good, and is unwilling to accept outside help to aid its citizens, and the government has made aggressive moves with the intent of destabilizing the region, then a war is justified.

By my standards, the current war in Iraq was justified, just executed poorly - thus, its transformation into the magnet for criticism and the require 'surge' we see today. Not criticizing the critics (I fully support their exercise of their rights), just saying.

 

[Gelion]

Cool! Here take a drink, and this ciggie too, I want to take over your badly managed wife!

 

[REDY]

When France says so

 

[kramerfan86]

On going genocide or unprovoked invasion of neighbors.

 

[Dachs]

War is justified when it involves pwning some n00bs.

 

[Rik Meleet]

(..)
My answer:

Spoiler :

When a government is unwilling (not incapable) to protect its citizens and provide for the common good, and is unwilling to accept outside help to aid its citizens, and the government has made aggressive moves with the intent of destabilizing the region, then a war is justified.
(..)

Bye Bye Myanmar Birma. Bye Bye China's occupation of Tibet. Bye Bye Zimbabwe. Bye Bye Saudi Arabia.

 

[kramerfan86]

Bye Bye Myanmar Birma. Bye Bye China's occupation of Tibet. Bye Bye Zimbabwe. Bye Bye Saudi Arabia.

Sigh dont you know the rules. Dictators are only removed when they arent economically valuable or politically helpful.

 

[Archbob]

Idealistically, its only justified if it benefits the populace of that country.

Realistically, its justified if I can pwn you without the consequences being too great.

 

[GinandTonic]

When it will do more good than harm.

 

[Gustave5436]

Necessary? When its government is even more insane than usual (as with Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan in WWII)

Justified? never. War is itself an atrocity, and though atrocities like genocide might make it necessary, they certainly cannot justify it.

 

[_random_]

Necessary? When its government is even more insane than usual (as with Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan in WWII)

Justified? never. War is itself an atrocity, and though atrocities like genocide might make it necessary, they certainly cannot justify it.

The nail has been hit on the head.

 

[Arwon]

Cost-benefits analyses and a trustworthy attacking government need to be a big part of it. It's probably only demonstrably and clearly beneficial when something acutely and especially awful is happening, like genocide or aggressive wars... regular dictatorships don't cut it.

The thing with this "invading to undertake nationbuilding" thing is that it has essentially never worked. For some reason, people keep being surprised when it doesn't.

 

[GinandTonic]

Cost-benefits analyses and a trustworthy attacking government need to be a big part of it. It's probably only demonstrably and clearly beneficial when something acutely and especially awful is happening, like genocide or aggressive wars... regular dictatorships don't cut it.

The thing with this "invading to undertake nationbuilding" thing is that it has essentially never worked. For some reason, people keep being surprised when it doesn't.

The post I would have made if i wasnt so lazy

 

[Tee Kay]

1. Self-defence
2. To stop mass killings and severe mistreatment (eg genocides) of people. (in which case it would be more like "peacekeeping" rather than war)

 

[Perfection]

War is a justification onto itself.

 

[Shylock]

1. When done against non-white people and enemies of the Christian faith
2. To reclaim the Holy Land from the twin tribes of the heathen: The Muslim and the Jew
3. To further the interests of God, King and Empire.

 

[Zebra 9]

Gooblah hit the nail on the head IMNSVHO.

 

[innonimatu]

Technically, when you expect to profit from it, want to profit from it, and don't have a less risky means of achieving the same goals.

Morally, it's up to each person to. My opinion? In self defense, in the absence of real alternatives, and assuming that there is some hope of succeeding.

War for helping some other group is a slippery slope, at the very least... I'm not necessarily against a priori, case by case analysis required.

 

[carmen510]

In defense of the people of the nation, whether by brutal repression or genocide.

In defense of your attacked allies.

In defense of a neutral nation.

 

[Dachs]

the people of the nation

Ambiguities: where would life be without them? This is an excellent loophole and one that is frequently utilized already.