The Just War Theory

What justifies war? Who justifies it? Why as human beings do we feel the need to fight, harm, and kill others to achieve certain goals? These questions have been pertinent to our society since the beginning of time and continue to challenge us to better understand the human psyche, and code of ethics that give Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines credence to kill in the name of the United States of America. These ethics of war lay the foundation for that code of understanding and righteousness for when it is justifiable to pull the trigger and take the life of another, or commit an act of war.
Throughout history there have been many philosophers, psychologists, politicians, and historians who have studied warfare, the ethos
This theory focuses on three main points: Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello, and Jus Post Bellum (Bass). Jus ad Bellum translates to “right to war”. This term encompasses the justifications that must be met in order for a government to decide to go to war. These justifications must be decided upon by a legitimate authority, primarily based on a just cause such as an act of aggression. For example, following the attacks of September 11, 2001 President George W. Bush declared to the general public that the crimes committed on American soil would be met with justice, and “the Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate" (Pellegrini). Those malicious attacks of terror and aggression justified a declaration of war. Additionally, the right to war can be justified by a last resort in order to achieve a just goal if there is reasonable hope of success and proportionality (the good must outweigh the evil), through formal declaration and with the right intention (pursuit of a just cause with the ultimate goal of peace)
These victims of acts of aggression provide evidence for the importance of a clear understanding of just cause for battle. The ethics of war are deep arguments that originate at the dawn of humanity. At our core, all humans share a desire to live, thrive, and above all maintain a certain sense of morality. To determine the answers to the questions of what justifies war, who justifies it, and why we as human beings feel the need to fight, one must understand the purpose of war, and with that, the conviction of the human soul. At the end of the day, there is no victory in killing, no matter the success that it may lead to. War, in my opinion, must be fought for peace and peace alone. We are one species, who share many ideas, beliefs, cultures, and systems of thought. In order to progress and reach our full potential as humans, we must see that we will never fully understand the ethics behind war, because there is no “right” answer. What we can do, however, is justify how we act during war by demonstrating a clear comprehension of our actions and accepting the repercussions