I haven't had time to look at the President's speech. But The Times' coverage indicates that he referred to "just war" theory - or at least he argued that is a "just war."
There's information about just war theory here, which I think is not only a compelling way to approach the ethics of engaging in any particular war, but also an intellectually elegant argument in general.
You can find a paper I wrote about Jewish ethics and war here; part of the paper explains the just war theory. Judaism has no comparable theory.
Let me know your thoughts.
Rabbi Rose wrote and excellent thorough sketch of the different allowable reasons for war, limits of war, and rules of war as produced by groups of scholars among the major religions of the world. When I read in Rabbi Rose’s paper of the efforts of men to attempt to play God in the name of justice and peace, I am heartened by their good intentions, but saddened by their lack of faith and dependence on the Almighty Lord Adonai to do the job Himself, if they would just submit to His laws and decrees. The fallibility of all men directing and conducting war leaves little hope for mankind without the intervention of the perfect, merciful, and just omniscient omnipotent creator. I choose to draw my own conclusion about war, and when I should get involved in war, from reading about the sanctioned as well as unsanctioned wars in the Bible.
ReplyDeleteMany people in the world generalize about groups of people by separating them according to religion, race, ethnicity and other factors according to their prejudices. In Rabbi Rose’s paper about men attempting to legitimize war, people were grouped according to soldier, civilian, and non-combatant. This again shows the vain attempt of men with limited minds to play God.
The Lord Adonai discriminates by the individual according to his character. He blesses and protects the good, righteous, and clean individual whether he belongs to any of the groups of people as previously described or not. This will bring about a world of peace and justice through His Almighty hand after He lets us know of our wrong ways and teaches us how to live and worship Him. Is it good to know, that war will be a forgotten thing of the past.