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Abstract
Debates using Just War theory to evaluate the morality of military action have
been common as of late due to America’s involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq since
9/11. However, in debating the ethical use of force, it is often forgotten that Just War
doctrines were formulated in a very different political and strategic milieu than the
twenty-first century. Moreover, proponents of traditional Just War fail to note that many
of the tenets are more pragmatic than ethical. This paper provides a reconceptualization
of both the pragmatic and moral bases of Just War theory and its relation to the War on
Terror. More specifically, the paper reframes jus ad bellum and jus in bello, taking into
consideration rogue states, weapons of mass destruction, and non-state terrorist actors and
networks. In addition, the paper discusses the application of jus post bellum criteria and
proposes that Cold War containment policies provide a model for advancing an ethical
and practical War on Terror.
Convention