I don't think there are too many instances in which starting a war is justified, but getting involved in a war can be justified, especially if you were attacked, I.E. Pearl Harbor and 9/11. I think the actions we took after Pearl Harbor are perfectly justifiable, but our actions after 9/11 is still up in the air as to whether it was justified. I believe invading Iraq was wrong, because we created a power vacuum which ISIS filled, but Afghanistan is probably the right move, considering the brutality of what we see out of the Taliban recently, and us pulling out of Afghanistan will probably create a similar result with as in Iraq. Going to war again with all that in mind wouldn't be a good thing, but doing nothing may turn out to be even worse.
By principal a defensive war is always a just war ... Extending the conceptualization also the American wars which have been a reaction to 9/11 are actually "defensive" wars ...
Some would disagree with that. Did the war with the taliban have to do with 9/11, or could of Americans pursued Osama Bin Laden and the 9/11 perpetrators without an invasion? It's a tough sell convincing me the war was defensive really.
Perhaps the only thing stopping me from saying no. Out of curiousity, is there a time when a defensive war was unjust? For example, you claim the the invasion of Afghanistan is justified. Does that mean the Taliban's defense of Afghanistan was justified given it was defensive? The Taliban didn't actually perpetuate 9/11. They supported Al-Qaeda like two other dozen groups and nations. - - - Updated - - - This makes a lot of sense. What wars would you consider necessary?
A just war would be a war done in purely self defense. When you did nothing to cause another nation to attack you. They just wanted your (*)(*)(*)(*). Or to have control over you, to their benefit. Most wars are conducted for ideological or religious reasons, these days, but in the past, wars were started because I wanted what you had, in some form. then we started waging wars for ideas. Waging a war in self defense isn't a right wing thing. I am not a right winger. All life defends itself. It is hardwired into us.
I believe a war for ideological or religious reasons is unjust. I am still skeptical over whether the latter form of war you described can be just. Offensively of defensively.
Interesting enough, a friend of mine argued that all wars are unjust. Even when defensive. He argued that liberty and national pride were not reasons to fight a defensive war. In some respects I agree with him. I would rather be alive with my family and retain humanity over the life of my nation. A commonly quoted example in this debate is WW2. Many argued that involvement of foreign nations into the war was just, as Nazi Europe was evidently massacring people.
What if the reason for the 'religious' war is to not force your religion on someone, but to go to war with someone who is basically sweeping across a land and basically saying join us in our religion or die in the name of our religion?
From a North American perspective? Very, very few. WWII. Afghan War. That's all that pops to the top of my head.
What is the definition of a 'just war'? War is hell and should be entered into, by authorization from Congress only when necessary to defend the nation's citizens from attack, not to overthrow a foreign government. If war is declared, wage war to win with the full force and might of our military, then end the war.
God has clearly stated, you shall not murder! No one war can be justified ever! If in the first rows were send to fight politicians, banksters and religious leaders there were not wars. Read here statements of True Christians against wars. http://www.jw.org/en/
Yes, I believe sometimes wars are justifiable. But bombing defenseless people half around the globe is not one of those times.
War happens when we stand by and do nothing as evil takes hold. War is a failure to react to a threat to all men.
