We'll be told that members of the United Nations Security Council will prevent this case from getting a fair hearing there. Then why not go to the UN General Assembly? This matter should be discussed before the entire world.
But we should avoid unilateral US action. We aren't the policemen of the world, and we're certainly not its judge, jury, and executioners. We don't have the legal right to act alone, and you can't end illegality by acting outside the law.
The sixth principle is that of an open mind.
If the evidence of Assad's chemical warfare is conclusive and the proper international authorities agree we should act, we'll then be called upon to consider all possible options and match the means to the ends. "Just war theory," which has been around since the time of Saint Augustine, defines war as an act of last resort. That gives us the moral obligation to ask what other steps might be taken before engaging in military action.
Would international aid be more effective? Can we work with regional alliances? Are there other avenues we haven't adequately considered?
Seventh, we're called upon to make moral and rational choices.
If it's agreed that military action is our only recourse, it must be conducted in a moral and rational way, with goals that are both just and coherent. We have to ask ourselves:
What are our exact objectives? "Just war theory" allows for a number of moral and rational goals. They include overthrowing a dictator, punishing wrongful deeds, or ending a threat to the security of other nations. What would our goals be in Syria?
Are they achievable? We don't need to know in advance if a Syrian mission will work. Sometimes we have to take risks without knowing the outcome. But we need to know that it could work, and that it's worth trying.
Is this approach the best way to achieve them? The President insists Assad's use of chemical weapons must be punished to prevent him from doing it again. How do we know that the means now being contemplated, such as cruise missile strikes, will have that effect? Or, if the strikes are only "symbolic," is "symbolism" a clear enough objective?
Is it worth the sacrifice? Our nation has shown enormous willingness to sacrifice for oppressed peoples, or to ensure its own security. Are these sacrifices called for in this case? We've already discussed the economic costs, and human lives are far more precious. We need to know if the potential loss in Syrian and American lives is worth the anticipated gains.
Do we understand all the implications? International actions can have unintended consequences. How would a Syria strike affect the geopolitics of the region? Would we be indirectly supporting forces like al Qaeda?
Is this action designed to be limited and proportional? The President says his proposed attacks won't lead to a wider war. But his Congressional resolution appears open-ended, authorizing a wide array of future actions. If our goals are limited and proportional to the problem, as military action should be, the Congressional resolution should set explicit limits on future action.
The eighth and final principle is respect for human life, now and in the future.
The debate we're about to have will affect the lives of many people, and will determine whether fellow human beings live or die. It may shape the geopolitical conflicts of the future. What's more, the way we choose to conduct that debate will help shape the kind of country we become. A decision this grave can't be made in haste, or out of anger. It must be considered and discussed carefully and thoroughly.
There are moments in history when we're called upon to act as if the future is watching us -- because it is.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
