Just War

• A just war is a war that meets internationally accepted criteria for fairness, it follows traditional Christian rules introduced and developed by St Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.
• Just war theory is to ensure that it is ethical.
• The war must have a just cause, this includes, self-defence, or defending others.  It must not be to gain territory or resources, or in retaliation.
• The war must be declared by the correct authority.  This should be the government or lawful rulers of the country.
• The intention of the war has to be to defeat wrongdoing and promote good.  The good achieved by the war must outweigh the evil that led to it.
• Fighting must be a last resort.  All other ways of resolving the issue must have been attempted.
• There must be a reasonable chance of success- it is unfair for people to fight in a war that they will lose.
• The methods used to fight must be proportional, excessive force should not be used.
• The war must be fought by just means.  Innocent people and civilians must not be targeted and harmed.
• Only appropriate force may be used.  This includes the type of force and how much is used.
• Internationally agreed conventions on the conduct of war must be obeyed.  The Geneva Convention, lays down the rules that must be obeyed in war.