Hi Mike, According to just war theory, I think it would be regarded as a pragmatic and correct decision, if you stayed away from a war you had no chance of winning. Because if a government or group of generals went into a war they believed they couldn't win, they'd be risking the lives of their soldiers for no gain. This would be immoral, and the war would therefore not be just. For a war to be just, you have to be fair to your own side, as well as the other side.
Sarah At 9:54 AM +0100 01/17/2003, mike pritchard wrote: >I was intrigued to see that 'having a reasonable chance of success' >is one of the conditions of a 'just war'. My question is: if all >the other conditions were in place and if, in contrast, one's >military forces had an *unreasonable* chance of success, would this >make it an *unjust war*, and would the failure to go to war in this >circumstance be cowardly and immoral or merely pragmatic? > >mike in barcelona
