Debate: Is War Ever Justified?

LearnLiberty, a project of the Institute for Humane Studies, has just released a new video on military intervention between former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Jan Ting and economist Bryan Caplan. A shorter video, Does a Stronger Military Make Us Safer? is available here.

Caplan’s work on pacifism can be found here, here and here.

41 thoughts on “Debate: Is War Ever Justified?”

  1. Hotel Rwanda

    The American popular political "argument" is the US made a mistake in "not intervening".in Rwanda..and that such a situation should never be allowed to ever happen again. The moral argument of R2P

    That's the public record. But, what if the other story is true, the one uncovered around the assassination of Habyarimana? — that America's well financed, well trained, well backed Kagame (and CIA) were behind the assassination? There's been a impressive amount of silence and misdirection and conspiracy -with the point being: when there's this much turns and twists and "official" silence, typically that reinforces intelligence communities had something to do with it

    I have a hard time believing the US would design genocide, but I could see wonks -true believers- convince themselves the assassination would knee-cap fighting, and by default, create a shift in power to their man -Kagame. Oh, it did. But not the way they imagined? Or did they?

    And so the cover up story, "if we only knew" if "we acted earlier". But never questions like …"did we cause this from meddling, feeding warfare, and while trying to have our cake and eat it too in blew up in America's face?"

    And so a similar game is playing out in Syria today.

    How powerful and persuasive the moral argument can be when facing mass murder, genocide, mass rape, torture, ethnic cleansing. It all comes with a painful and visceral reaction. Perhaps that's why Susan Rice et al spoon-fed propaganda of "Viagra" and "mass rape" in Libya…it justified their assassination of Qaddafi to their populace.

    1. You say, "I have a hard time believing the US would design genocide". I say, "Ask the Sioux. Ask the Cheyenne. Ask the Cherokee. Ask the Apache. Ask…"

      1. I was specifically referring to evidence present in the case of Rwanda. The clause you conveniently took out of context was followed up with a comma and the conjunction "but", which is used to negate the preceding clause. I ended the paragraph with "Or did they?". Putting the original negated clause on its head.

        But, all that aside, to respond to your clever retort: I am the Cherokee.

        Do you have any other profound point to offer to conversation?

  2. And to think the Americans were making such a fuss over countries like Syria (and now Turkey) tracking down tweets. Go figure.

    America, the world's largest hypocrite. A kinder gentler fascism (TM).

  3. My friend just simply discovered a lot of our website yesterday evening along with this post can not really become added timely pertaining to all of us. My friend am currently within the particular activity involving re-investing my web persona (started the completely new blog), We had a new self hosted blog many years past (My friend shut this affordable inside 2007), and just simply have the particular face book thing.

  4. is war ever justified? of course not do u really think war is justified i may be called a hippy for saying so but i don't think war is ever justified there are people dieting and did the winning country really win? or do they have to put up with bad sights of killing men and children with some contrys they had to defend there woman and children or the generals having to go and tell the soliders families that he was sorry that he watched that solider die from the murder of him.. the reason i say murder is because is war just a bunch of men that are able to get away with murder yes i understand we have to defend our country but does violence have to be the answer right away do we have to use guns when not needed have we ever just tried to talk first or maybe showed the other con tries some respect. like honestly do we really need to keep giving heven more and more angels i don't completely argree with war…. so now u tell me war is justified

  5. Today’s politicians are educated they understand different culture for the diplomacy between two countries, due to education our politicians easily speak and understand English.

  6. And to think the Americans were making such a fuss over countries like Syria (and now Turkey) tracking down tweets. Go figure.

    America, the world's largest hypocrite. A kinder gentler fascism (TM).

  7. It’s hard to tell with these Internet start ups if they’re really interested in building companies or if they’re just interested in the money. I can tell you, though..read full report

  8. Great post, Debra. I love Jenna's mention of the editorial calendar, it's a tool I've been recommending for a long time and so many folks find helpful!read full report

  9. Research writing must involve professional attitude and behavior throughout the process. It must be done with high level of research expertise and skills from the side of the researcher.

  10. Thank you very much for this informative post.I really enjoyed the article.I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article…michael kukulka

  11. I just thought it may be an idea to post in case anyone else was having problems researching but I am a little unsure if I am allowed to put names and addresses on here…Medical Assistant

  12. Well this article that i ve been waited for therefore long. i want this article to finish my assignment within the faculty. and it has same topic together with your article. thehealthydays.com

  13. Thank you very much for this informative post.I really enjoyed the article.I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article. go here

  14. Thank you very much for this informative post.I really enjoyed the article.I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article. go here

Comments are closed.