Is the only legitimate excuse for any war to free oneself from direct oppression?

Question

Is the only legitimate excuse for any war to free oneself from direct oppression?

Answer 1

NO

Answer 2

No.

I do not think you mean 'excuse' I think you mean reason.

War is usually based on failed economics.

What I think you want to ask is  "Is war ever just?"

I think that is difficult to say because the results of war usually end in more wars.

I have always been a strong defender of the right of nations to self determination.

3 nations come to mind

Iraq - which the British created and imposed and removed King Idris (?)

where the Americans imposed Saddam Hussein on the people

and

Southern Rhodesia where there is an utterly evil despot

and

Burma where the people are persecuted by the regime (Christians are made to clear land mine filled fields- - there is a persecution if ever there was one).

In Iraq the west decided to go to war supposedly to free the oppressed - as someone who worked there between the wars I assure you it was better off under Saddam.

Southern Rhodesia (also known as Zimbabwe) is run by a man entirely evil as Saddam but no one will rescue this former British colony. Why?  Simple - Iraq has oil Zimbabwe has none.

Burma.  Poor and no one really wants to die for poor people.  They will die for oil but not the poor.

And these people are trying to be free but it is hard to be free at the barrel of a gun.

Were my country invaded it depends entirely on who invaded it as to whether or not I felt oppressed.  I feel oppressed in the UK but not enough to go to war about it.  If I  felt more oppressed I would go and live somewhere else.

But when the government no longer even pretends to care about the people and uses them as chattles then it is an option.

It depends on the goals. So far I can think only of WWII as being a justifiable war. Yet that was caused by the Allied Powers and especially the French at Versailles when they insisted on kicking Germany in the face.

I think it is pretty hard  to justify any war. Period.  If the politicians who send the soldiers would go to the front line and take up arms I would be impressed.  That has not happened for hundreds of years.

Answer 3

nope.  that's one reason.

Answer 4

NO it can also be utilized to establish ones own "legacy"

Answer 5

or defend against invasion.

Answer 6

i agree. but what about defending one who is under direct oppression?

Answer 7

The Xn Just War Doctrine gives the following principles as to what is a legitimate excuse for war:

Principles of the Just War

1.  A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.

2.  A war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority. Even just causes cannot be served by actions taken by individuals or groups who do not constitute an authority sanctioned by whatever the society and outsiders to the society deem legitimate.

3.  A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause (although the justice of the cause is not sufficient--see point #4). Further, a just war can only be fought with "right" intentions: the only permissible objective of a just war is to redress the injury.

4.  A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable.

5.  The ultimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought.

6.  The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. States are prohibited from using force not necessary to attain the limited objective of addressing the injury suffered.

7.  The weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissible targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target.   "Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation" (Gaudium et Spes #80--the final document of Vatican II, 1965).

Answer 8

throughout history, wars are fought for resources, religion, and power. so, the question is a matter of morale stance and will vary by whom you ask.

Answer 9

or to protect a way of life.