Review: Politics, Justice and War, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Politics, Justice and War, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: ISIS, though nihilist, is not without state connection.  Let no one deny that the Saudi kingdom is bankrolling them and should be held responsible for the consequences. This leaves the Saudis with no room to object to any action taken to suppress this movement. Indeed, it leaves them open to the payment of reparations or the facing of consequences.



The old saw is that war is diplomacy by other means - or the opposite that war is diplomacy by other means.  Of course, modern technology and assymetrical warfare throw a monkey wrench into those equations.  Just war does legitimate war, which is OK unless you are a non-combatant caught in the crossfire.  Still, better a war with rules than one without them.  It should also recognize the economic interests of war.  Even if they are not explicit, everyone knows when they are the real cause of the conflict.  Marx,then, may be a better source to explain and justify warfare than Augustine.  Augustine had stable Pax Romana and its economy.  Marx is more apropos for today.  Of course, when you use a Marxian framework, there is no promise that God will pick the winner and it will be just.  Whether freedom and democracy or socialism always win is conditioned on your point of view, however nothing matches superior firepower - which our Lord talked about when nations fight and one who is outmatched sues for peace. Not doing so, by the way, is foolish and its what got Saddam and Muamar killed.  The international order appears to be raw force, usually American force when fully committed,or at least adequately committed.  How legitimate the Pax Americana is should be the question of the hour on the justness of war.