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Complexities of War
CAPE forum presents array of intriguing perspectives

In order for any war to be just, those who wage it must desire peace and act in self-defense. But these conditions are only two of many in the Just War Tradition, as defined by two panelists during the Center for Applied and Professional Ethics forum on “Understanding the Iraq War” held April 3.

In her introduction to the forum, Susan Place, professor of geography and associate dean of Graduate, International, and Sponsored Programs, said that she had organized the forum because the community was not receiving a “broad enough array” of information on the war with Iraq. The panel she assembled, ready to address an audience of more than 200 students, faculty, and Chico residents, was certainly equipped to bridge the gap: Andrew Flescher, Religious Studies; Nasim Jawed, History; Beau Grosscup, Political Science; Samir Nissan, Accounting and Management Information Systems; Jim Anderson, Religious Studies; Celeste Jones, Social Work; Bill Collins, Geography and Planning; and David Brown, Geosciences.

After outlining the Just War Tradition, which dates back to the fall of the Roman Empire, Flescher condemned George Bush’s use of “shock and awe” to describe a military attack. “Bush, a religious man … ought to know better what such phrases pertain to,” Flescher said. Anderson had equally harsh words for Donald Rumsfeld. His cut and dried philosophies, such as unconditional surrender, support a Crusade mentality, Anderson said—not the Just War Tradition, which he defined as a war declared by a legitimate authority, used only as a last resort, and to protect the innocent.

Grosscup further criticized the Bush administration for aggravating already long-standing tensions between the United States and its allies. “Europe has watched,” Grosscup said, as the United States has rejected global contracts like the Kyoto and ABM treaties. Additionally, Bush’s pre-emptive strike philosophy has “imposed a new conceptual environment” on U.S. allies, leaving them shocked at what they see as U.S. assertions of hegemony.

Expressing support for U.S. troops and Iraqis, Jawed clarified Arab views of the United States and the war. “They do not hate Americans,” he said. In fact, according to Jawed, the Arab world admires U.S. values and its constitution. However, the Arab world finds great inconsistency in U.S. policies that support Ariel Sharon—who many Arab citizens compare to Saddam Hussein—and neglect the needs of Palestinians. Nissan explained that Iraq has been steadily invaded for the last 6,000 years. He shared the irony of an “interesting statement” a British general had made upon his entrance to Baghdad in the early 20th century: “We are here as liberators, not conquerors.” Iraq was then governed by British-appointed authorities and royalty until 1958.

Collins explained why Mesopotamia is considered the cradle of civilization: it is the birthplace of Abraham; the location, in the view of many Christians, of the Garden of Eden; and the land where civilizations were first developed through agriculture. More than 100,000 sites and artifacts remain, Collins said, but are at great risk of being destroyed. In the Gulf War, not only were military vehicles driven through ancient mosques, but the Baghdad National Museum was also bombed—then pillaged. An estimated 20,000 artifacts were smuggled out of the country. Brown presented equally disturbing facts about the environment of Iraq. Fallout from Gulf War oil fires and bomb and missile explosions released soot, dioxin, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide into the air. This is what happens, Brown said, “when you burn things that are not to be burned.”

After experiencing war, soldiers and civilians might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Jones presented a list of symptoms, such as depression, anxiety attacks, and disorientation, and said that studies prove PTSD lasts longer for victims of deliberate violence than for victims of random violence or natural disasters. In addition, she said, we should monitor ourselves, as watching excessive war coverage on television can induce PTSD symptoms.

During the question and answer session, one audience member addressed the complexity of war in the 21st century, questioning both the legitimacy of pre-emptive strikes and the consequences of television viewing by saying, “A just war that we can turn off … makes war much more acceptable.” Flescher and Anderson explained the inherent subjectivity of a “just” war. Flescher said that it would be hard to find any just war theorist who supported the war in Iraq. Jawed stated that U.S. policies on Israel and the war are the most significant problems that affect Muslim relations with the United States.

Anna Moore