preview

What Are The Rules Of Ju In Bello

Decent Essays

Jus in Bello The rules of jus in bello (or justice in war) serve as guidelines for fighting well once war has begun. Some maintain that morality does not exist in warfare, and therefore object to just war theory. War is hell, the argument goes, and one is entitled to do whatever is necessary to ensure victory for one's own side. Just war theory, on the other hand, sets forth a moral framework for warfare and rejects the notion that "anything goes" during times of war. Belligerent armies are entitled to try to win, but they cannot do anything that is, or seems, necessary to achieve victory. There are restraints on the extent of harm, if any, that can be done to noncombatants, and restraints on the weapons of war. These restraints aim to limit war once it has begun. The principles of humanitarian law are thought to apply in conflict, and to regulate the conduct of military forces. The rules of warfare aim to safeguard human life and some other fundamental human rights, and to ensure that war is limited in its scope and level of violence. Total war, where neither discrimination nor proportionality serves as mitigating …show more content…

In weapons of mass destruction, the just war theory is an important deterrent to ensure that proportionate action is taken during war. It is important to have some rules for war than none at all because guidelines such as the just war theory make war more humane and can set the foundation for international law, like the Geneva Convention. The rules also have a psychological benefit as well; one side will want to keep to the rules so that the other side does as well. To prove that the just war condition works there would have to be wars that would have been just, like the Falklands war, this shows us that it can work in

Get Access