Just War

I thought President Obama's speech at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was powerful and eloquent. There are many points which I thought were effective and made clear that the world in 2009 is very different from the world of the Cold War, World War II or even pre-9/11. But, I thought his most courageous topic was his discussion of just war and his defense of the U.S. conflict in Afghanistan as fitting the criteria. Philosophers from Cicero to Thomas Aquinas on to thinkers of the 21st century have struggled with the issue of just war. It is usually described as being a conflict which meets the following principles:

1. It must be used only as a last resort after all non-violent options have failed.
2. It can only be fought to redress an injury, usually as a means of self-defense.
3. There must be a reasonable chance of success. Deaths in a hopeless cause are
not morally justifiable.
4. The violence used must be proportional to the injury suffered.
5. The ultimate goal must be a peace not possible without the war.
6. Civilians are never a justifiable target of war.

Using these principles, Obama courageously declared that "no holy war can ever be a just war."

What do you think?

1. Is any war a "just war"?

2. Is Obama correct? Is Afghanistan a "just war"?

Afghanistan

Finally, President Barack Obama has announced his policy on Afghanistan. What Dick Cheney called "dithering", Obama called "deliberating." In brief, Obama calls for an escalation of troops to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan, the establishment of a stable and non-corrupt government and the development of home grown security forces. All this will be done by 2011 and then American troops will begin to be withdrawn.

It is difficult for me to approve of the increase of "boots on the ground", but in this case, I don't see how this could be avoided. If we just leave Afghanistan with its borders touching Iran, Pakistan and Russia, I believe the nation will implode and the Taliban will be back in power quickly, threatening Pakistan (and its nukes) with the support of Iran. So, I think our presence is a necessary evil because the alternative is simply unacceptable. One part of the plan which I find very hopeful is the increase in development workers, not must military personnel. In the long run, I think schools like the ones built by Greg Mortenson or the scarves and gloves given out to children are more likely to deter future potential terrorists than all the bullets in the world. So, I guess I am cautiously supportive of what seems like the best of the bad options Obama had.

What do you think of the Obama plan for Afghanistan?

Jacob Zuma and AIDS

Yesterday, on World AIDS Day, Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa, announced a surprising plan for fighting HIV/AIDS in his country which is the nation with the largest number of HIV positive people in the world. The new policy calls for earlier treatment for pregnant women who are HIV positive and medical treatment for ALL babies born HIV positive. Finally there is hope for these youngest victims of a disease which infects one in ten South Africans. This is an amazing and welcome change in a nation where the health minister once argued that AIDS could be cured by garlic and beet root. And Zuma is the most unlikely of heroes in this battle against the disease. When he was tried for the rape of an HIV positive woman in 2006, he testified that he had prevented himself from getting the disease by taking a shower after having sex. I criticized and mocked Zuma's ignorant attitude on many occasions. Today, I am pleased to say such positive things about him. I will be very happy if it turns out that I was wrong about him.