Comment Paper 5

Comment Paper 5

            Just War Theory cannot be used solely to justify targeted killings because a targeted killing can involve much more than just simple warfare.  When war is declared, death is indeed inevitable; however it is not the objection of the war which is usually fought for some greater good.  With targeted killings, which often end up involving civilians, the just war theory is too broad to apply.  Daniel Statman’s jus in bello approach is accurate because terrorism and war are two separate entities.  Although the two terms often go hand in hand, if the reasoning behind the war is not defined as just then this extension of war, terrorism, is even less so.  Terrorism does not only encompass those who are in warfare such as soldiers, but also attacks civilians, just as targeted killings often do.  Although it can be argued that targeted killings could fulfill the principles of the just war theory, this is untrue.  An important principle to just war theory is that there must be a just cause.  How is this cause justified?  To one person or group something might seem morally right, to others just the opposite.  An example of this discrepancy is religion; there are many radical groups who believe they have a just reason for war or targeted killings.  However there are many people who do not believe religion is an acceptable reason for attack.  This “just cause” aspect is expansive, because different groups of people can have very different beliefs in what is justified and what is not.  Another characteristic of just war theory is that the violence must be proportional to the wrong.  In many cases of targeted killings there are civilians killed or hurt, not just the predicted target.  Targeted killings usually do not involve “old” warfare, such as on a battlefield.  Hence the targets are often hidden, creating a problematic solution when trying to avoid harming innocent people.  This then negates the argument of violence being a reason to perform targeted killings unless the target will be the only person affected.  I strongly believe in the protection of civilians; without this a nation will easily crumble in fear and disaster.  Therefore a targeted killing can only be used when no other non-related person is affected.