"Illegal" war???

[sharder8]

I've been hearing the phrase "illegal" war quite a bit lately and it got me to thinking . . . . .

What makes the Iraq war "illegal"?

It was a declared war . . . . . declared in advance and after much posturing.

While it was originally based on the premise of WMD, it also involved the actions and previous actions of Saddam. (The actions of Saddam have met the scrutney of public opinion in many similar military actions in the past.)

The reason I'm asking is that it dawned on me that by todays thinking . . . . the American Revolution was "illegal" as well. Come to think of it . . . . most "wars" in the last 400 years were "illegal" as well.

On the other hand, what makes a war legal???

Harder

[Pexster]

Personally, I'd like to see administrations go through the process of issuing a declaration of war. I'm not sure of all the reasons (aside from lack of political will) that they don't anymore. As you know, Viet Nam was not a declared "war" either.

My guess is that Theo will be able to provide some historical analysis here.

[Smidley]

In chronological order:

Iraq war illegal, says Annan - September 16, 2004
Iraq war allies rebuff UN chief - September 16, 2004
US says Iraq invasion was legal - September 16, 2004
Mid-East press unites behind Annan - September 18, 2004

[Chuckiechan]

To be legal it needs to meet the "Global Test" as defined by the UN and Sen. Kerry.

[lone1dog]

I've been hearing the phrase "illegal" war quite a bit lately and it got me to thinking . . . . .

What makes the Iraq war "illegal"?

It was a declared war . . . . . declared in advance and after much posturing.

While it was originally based on the premise of WMD, it also involved the actions and previous actions of Saddam. (The actions of Saddam have met the scrutney of public opinion in many similar military actions in the past.)

The reason I'm asking is that it dawned on me that by todays thinking . . . . the American Revolution was "illegal" as well. Come to think of it . . . . most "wars" in the last 400 years were "illegal" as well.

On the other hand, what makes a war legal???

Harder

I think they should re-read your question Sharder8. You didn't ask about what makes the Iraqi war illegal,God we have beat that horse to death. You asked what makes a war illegal?

[sharder8]

I think they should re-read your question Sharder8. You didn't ask about what makes the Iraqi war illegal,God we have beat that horse to death. You asked what makes a war illegal?

Subtle and great at beatin' aroun' the bush, ain't I???

Yer' right though, that is the gist of my post, "What makes a war legal"?

Harder

[loftezy]

Subtle and great at beatin' aroun' the bush, ain't I???

Yer' right though, that is the gist of my post, "What makes a war legal"?

Harder

As with any legality issue, a war is legal if it fits within the accepted laws.

[The Real Bingo]

To be legal it needs to meet the "Global Test" as defined by the UN and Sen. Kerry.

Yep. You have to make sure the majority of the nations agree with your course of action before you defend your country by going to war...

[sharder8]

As with any legality issue, a war is legal if it fits within the accepted laws.

Who's law and what law? (Specific's required!)

Harder

[loftezy]

Yep. You have to make sure the majority of the nations agree with your course of action before you defend your country by going to war...

If you read the UN Charter, it says that a country can defend itself if it is experiencing aggressive actions from another nation. Was the US experiencing aggressive actions from Iraq? IMO, no. Thats why I feel that the war was illegal.

[The Real Bingo]

Well, physically, we weren't defending anything... yet. We were defending a potential physical threat.

On the other hand, we could have been defending some unknown interests in the Middle East. There is probably so much more stuff to it, we, the public, barely even see the surface.

[loftezy]

Well, physically, we weren't defending anything... yet. We were defending a potential physical threat.

I fail to see the potential threat. Also, EVERY country is a potential physical threat. That is exactly why the UN was created! It helped ease the tention of "neighbors" not trusting "neighbors."

[The Real Bingo]

Iraq was unstable. I'm sure England or Germany or Canada isn't going to nuke us anytime soon...

[Smidley]

Yep. You have to make sure the majority of the nations agree with your course of action before you defend your country by going to war...

It's not defense when the country didn't attack you first.

[The Real Bingo]

That's why they use the term "preemptive".

[Smidley]

Who's law and what law? (Specific's required!)

Harder

The laws determined by the current society and how they interpret them.

If history, as seen by the future dominant society, looks favorably on a war, it's legal; unfavorably, it's illegal.

[Stick32]

Iraq intended to build nuclear weapons that's a potential threat. Iraq's chief of the nuclear weapons program has confirmed it. Oh, and where was the UN when Afghanistan was harboring Osama? Where are they with all the atrocities going on in our world?

[The Real Bingo]

The laws determined by the current society and how they interpret them.

If history, as seen by the future dominant society, looks favorably on a war, it's legal; unfavorably, it's illegal.

Ah, but doesn't everyone interpret things differently?

[sharder8]

The laws determined by the current society and how they interpret them.

If history, as seen by the future dominant society, looks favorably on a war, it's legal; unfavorably, it's illegal.

So what you're saying is that if 10 years from now, society looks at the Iraq war favorably . . . . everyone today calling it illegal is wrong? (Or vice versa)

Harder

[sharder8]

As for the opinion of the UN . . . . . . . what a bunch of ineffective, corrupt, spineless dweebs!

The League of Nations, (predessor tothe UN), and the UN, were both formed with great intentions. Both have failed misserably from what was envisioned.

Harder