Iraq The Moral Reckoning

In Iraq: The Moral Reckoning, Craig M. White applies classic just war theory to the U.S. decision to go to war in 2003. This theory, to which the Bush administration and its supporters have referred both directly and indirectly in making a pro-war case to the world, provides three core moral criteria for a just war: sovereign authority, just cause, and right intention (which includes an aim of peace). Furthermore, there are three practical criteria that must also be considered: proportionality of ends, last resort, and reasonable chance of success. For each criterion, White painstakingly weighs statements by the Bush administration and its supporters against evidence available at the time. After considering a wide range of viewpoints and evidence, White concludes that each criterion, except sovereign authority, has not been met. By demonstrating a comprehensive application of the just war theory to one specific war, Iraq: The Moral Reckoning not only sets a new standard for evaluating the 2003 Iraq war but also shows how present and future wars can be better evaluated in moral and practical terms. Book jacket.

Craig M. White is public affairs officer at the U.S. embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius.