Conclusion
There is no set rule to classify a war as just. By Christian principles, a war that violates any one of the rules of war cannot be called just. Other theorists might allow a few diversions from the rules, but only to some extent. It is up to each of us to decide our own standards as to what qualifies as just war.
I do not believe that the war being fought in Iraq today can qualify as a just war.
I believe that it may be possible to have a just war if one of the requirements is not fulfilled, but the situation in Iraq violates so many of these rules that it cannot be justified. Almost every point can be disproved in the current situation. The authority of the United States is not fully legitimate as this invasion was not approved by the people who are represented by this government. The cause of war was not self-defense by any standard, and was a pre-emptive strike, which just war theory completely disapproves of. The opportunity for success is questionable, though this does change daily.
The transgressions of the rules of jus in bellum alone are enough to convince me that this is not a just war. Countless Iraqi civilians have died and this number remains uncounted because the military waging the war does not care about these figures. The cases if prisoner abuse at the magnitude that we see today are enough to violate the whole concept of justice during war.
It may not be impossible for this to become a just war, but that would require the assistance of a more legitimate authority. For example, if the United Nations intervened, the cause really might be just and for peace, the probability of success would increase, and many of the other problems could be fixed.
Just war is not a lost cause for the future, but it will never
be possible to say that what is happening in Iraq today is just war.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Tell me!