Jus in Bello (Just War Theory)

We will never forget where we were standing that fateful day, when we heard the news of September 11, 2001. The feelings of utter shock that this country was under attack, along side the mourning for the casualties, united Americans for a common purpose of war. The actions taken by Al-queda terrorists that day violated Just War principles by attacking innocent civilians. The United States responded by launching the War on Terrorism to combat this threat to noncombat immunity. However, since World War II United States wars have not necessarily been the most friendly to noncombatants either (Hiroshima for instance). The Biblical principles of proper war conduct and solidarity command governments not to target noncombatants, targeting civilians’ breaks apart families and economies, therefore, the United States must avoid practicing prejudice, terroristic and nuclear warfare in order that the United States might protect everyone’s right to life.

            According to the Just War Theory, soldiers forfeit the right to life in order to gain the right to kill those that on the other side forfeited the same right. Everyone that is not involved in the battle maintains their right to life and therefore, must not be targeted by militant campaigns. These principles go back to Old Testament laws of war. During Old Testament times, it was males over the age of twenty (Numbers 1:3) that fought while the women, children, and weak were protected in the cities. During battle Israel could not cut down a fruit tree to use as a barricade in order that other people might eat from it (Deuteronomy 20:19-20). In the same way God commanded the release of the conquered people the Israelites had claimed as prisoners and the plunder (2 Chronicles 28:8-15). War was meant to be between soldiers of different states while protecting the noncombatant women and children.

            Solidarity means keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, loving your enemies, it is what Christ taught and a Christian’s obligation to uphold.  There are going to be times of war (Ecclesiastes 3:8) but it is a Christian’s duty to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and strive for solidarity. When war inevitably occurs, Christian’s need to ensure that innocent lives are protected.

Noncombat immunity is not just about war policy, solidarity and the sanctity of life, it encompasses the economic and social well being of the opposing state. When the military kills someone in war, they are killing someone’s parent, child, sibling, coworker and friend, which holds true whether the casualty is a soldier or an innocent bystander. Still between five-hundred and a thousand civilians die every month in the current Iraq war alone (Fischer). These civilians once were productive members of society but because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time it cost them their lives.

            It must also be noted that there were times in which Israel was commanded to wipe out entire cities population, burning it to the ground and killing all the survivors. There were several reasons for this, mainly to ensure that the Jews were faithful to God but also to prevent diseases from spreading, among other reasons. Just because God commanded Israel to wipe out everything that stood in their way, does not mean that New Testament Christians maintain that same right. The terrorist attacks by Al-queda, Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks by American Air Force, among countless other attacks on noncombatants were unjust.

            Acknowledging the citizens of other states as people of equal value to the people of the United States is a start to the solution. Too often war policy is determined by the citizenship of the parties at the targeted location. If there are a few innocent Iraqi’s at the same location as a targeted individual the American government might favor an air attack to prevent soldiers from being harmed however, if there were any American hostages at the location the entire procedure changes to a ground attack in order to protect the Americans (Carlino). Americans place values on people based on their citizenship with Americans being on top and the opposing countries citizens on the bottom. If the United States would take the same risks for the opponent’s noncombatants as it does for American POW’s, it could save hundreds if not thousands of innocent lives. We are all equal in the eyes of the Lord; why in times of war would it be any different?

             The up and coming trend of suicide bombing and terrorist attacks against civilians must end. The United States must do all that is in its power to ensure an event like September 11 never happens again. Americans must put an end to these suicide bombings and step up security for bomb paraphernalia and other lethal weapons (i.e. biochemical, nuclear). Neither the United States nor any other country should even possess the weaponry that’s  impact outreaches it’s designated target. Weapons should not be used to destroy entire cities the way they were used at Hiroshima, nor should any weapon target a public building containing unintended victims. There are always going to be times when people are at the wrong place at the wrong time, but too often, more could be done to avoid needless death. Just because someone is trying to make a living working at a bomb manufacturer of the opposing side, this does not mean that person should die for their career choice. If that were the case, one should die for paying taxes to the opposing government to finance the war and all the nations that trade with that government. If it is deemed that an enemy factory must be destroyed, it is only right that the attack happen at a time when no human lives are in danger. The United States does fairly well in this compartment but there are still plenty of lives for improvement.

            The reason America is fighting the War on Terrorism is to protect Americans from the threat of terrorism and noncombat immunity. However, in the invasions, the United States inevitably killed thousands of civilians, more than whom died in the Twin Towers collapse. The United States needs to be more careful about the targets it selects. The United States government needs to realize that American citizens are equal to the enemy’s citizens and deserve equal and utmost amount of care and concern. The United States must ensure that nuclear warfare is never used again and the capacity for nuclear warfare destroyed, as much as possible, in America and across the world. Also, the United States needs to break up terrorist groups and push for stronger civilian rights in times of war through the United Nations. It is a Biblical mandate that Christians act as peacemakers, ensure solidarity and keep public officials in accordance with Biblical laws for combat. Noncombat immunity needs to be first and foremost in American government.

Works Cited

Carilino, Michael. (2004) On The Importance of Noncombat Immunity. Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. http://www.usafa.edu/isme/JSCOPE04/Carlino04.html

Fischer Hannah, (2008, August 27) CRS Report for Congress Iraqi Civilian Death Estimates. Washington DC: Library of Congress. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22537.pdf

Sider, Ronald. (2008) The Scandal of Evangelical Politics. Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Books.

Weisman, Charles.(1994, December) A Handbook of Bible Law—Welfare and Military Law. Minnesota: Weisman Publication. http://www.giveshare.org/BibleLaw/lawhandbook/22.html#Comments