Briefly analyze Just War Theory and its application to humanitarian intervention. Was the U.S. use of force in Somalia in 1993 justified morally?
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The Just War Theory sets forth guidelines that make a war just. Humanitarian intervention can be applied to those conditions however it fails to meet one major requirement. Although there is injury caused to the people of an area considered for humanitarian efforts, the “force is employed not by those injured, but by a third party on behalf of others who have received injury or are undergoing extreme hardship” (Christopher, 2004, Ch. 15) I think that must be taken into consideration when applying the Just War Theory to humanitarian efforts as it alters the intention. Within the U.S. and UN, the fight was declared by recognized authorities who set forth to fight the drug lords, guerilla groups and extremists in Somalia due to the conditions in which were living and dying. When discussing the cause of the war, I think that remains questionable. The U.S. focused on Somalia while other countries in the region were facing the same death tolls, corrupt government and an uprising of rebel forces. Why was it Somalia that we focused our attention? What made that country’s atrocities any different than their surrounding countries? Was it due to the excess oil that was discovered in the country during the 80’s? I question this tenant of the Just War Theory when applied to the Humanitarian Intervention in Somalia. The next tenant is a reasonable chance of success. I must question this tenant as well as I consider success a peaceful result. The U.S. did notleave Somalia in a peaceful, secure state. Yes, there was much help given to the innocent of the country however the government was still corrupt and far from stable with the extremists growing