1) Consider what you know about World War I, the current War on Terror and global conflict in general. Then read an article from section I and II (read more if you like.) The hand out entitiled "Why did the US enter WWI" from last week will be helpful as well.
I) WWI
http://teachers.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/tgentine/documents/WWIDebate.pdf
A) bulleted outline of key historical perspectives on the US' role in WWI, requires Acrobat reader
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_75_Notes.htm
b) Describes public opinion and the historical impact of US foreign policy in the Great Wardiscussion of US public opinion on American involvement in WWI
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/germ-ww1.html
c) discussion of US public opinion on American involvement in WWI
II) Iraq
D)"Just War or Just a War" by former US President Jimmy Carter, New York Times, 2003
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00EFDE113FF93AA35750C0A9659C8B63
(argues against continued US occupation and war in Iraq)
E) "Fighting a Just War in Iraq" by Joseph Locatone, The Heritage Foundation, 2003
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Iraq/wm251.cfm
(argues in favor of continued US occupation and war in Iraq)
F) "A War We Just Might Win" by Michael O' Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack, New York Times, 2007http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/opinion/30pollack.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&oref=slogin
(offers analysis of US' effectiveness in Iraq)
2) Respond to the following questions. Include details from the articles and class as evidence of your work:
- What makes a war just?
- Was the US justified in it's decision to aid and ultimately join the Allied Powers in the Great War?
- Is the US' involvement in Iraq just? Compare and contrast these conflicts and the US' role in them.
(Note - this assignment is intended to be analytical and maybe controversial, it's OK for us to disagree, but please maintain academic decorum and respect for one another's views.)
200 word minimum
Please respond to at least one other post
Due friday 3/21 by 5:00 p.m. (we don't have school that day.)
9 comments:
Ian Murphy
History
Block A
What makes a war just? For one, we must have the right reasons to enter a war. Just wars should not be fought for the sake of revenge or invasion; rather, just wars should be fought for peace and stability, especially on both sides. That appears to be the reason why we, as the United Stated of America, entered the Great War, known more commonly today as World War I. Not all people, of course, feel the same way about this subject as each other. At the time of the war, several of us thought we should not interfere with European affairs, for more innocent people would die. Nevertheless, we ultimately decided to enter alongside the Allied Powers for the sake of democracy. In addition, it seem that we also entered as a last resort for the Allies as well as our own benefit. Our views as to what makes a war just, however, seem to have changed a bit. We are currently fighting in Iraq in a war that has lasted for six years as of now. This time, however, we seem to have engaged in this war for the sake of linking Iraq to the terrorist bombings on September 11, 2001. Now this position does not seem as justified as those that we had back in WWI, but what has not changed is that we still believe in national security just as we always have. This may seem like a controversial position I am making, but this is a very controversial subject matter, is it not?
Conrad Mallien
Block A
3/18/08
I feel a just is war is the one where the innocents aren't harmed or affected in a negative ways, such as inflation. Since Americans were killed on the ship that was bombed by German U-boats(subs) we were justified in our cause to take arms. But we had no right to invade a Iraq because one man we can't find says "it wasn't me." There's a big difference between fighting to save your oil and fighting for what you believe is right.
Many wars have been fought for unjust. In todays world many people have said that the Iraq is being fought for the wrong reasons. About 100 years many people thought the America should stay out of war mad Eruope. Both wars were fought for diffrent reasons, but both wars were not widely supported. The war in Iraq has been fought for five years, many people do not know about the emeny we are fighting and many want American soidlers out. While in World War one American ships were sunk by German U boats which caused America to join the Ailles. Today we are fighting to end terrorism. During World War many said that America ships were sunk because we were giving weapons to the allies. World War one was the frist domino to fall that led the most devsating war on the palnet earth World War two. Only time will tell what the war un Iraq will led to.
Ian - G: thoughtful and informed, but I'd like to see you interacting with the text more.
Conrad- N: Interesting points but it's not evident that you read the articles. Also, the post should be 200 words.
Mike - N: See my comments to conrad.
larry williams
history
block A
Throughout the years the United States has thought that being in war or acting the way they did in war is just. I believe that it is not. They way that the United States acts in war sometimes is horrible and they continue to do things that would not be allowed to be called american. There involvement in Iraq had to the most debated. The fact that the United States came in to a country that looked like they didnt want it would be dangerous. In the end it would be because thousands of lives have already been taken. We should all just hope that world war 1+2 would be a wake up call for america to stop right now and pull out before it is to late.
A war is just when the right reasons are present for entering the war. I do agree with Ian that War is the answer for peace (although most times violence is not the answer for peace) and this was the reason why the United States entered the war. The United States was just in entering the war with the allied powers due to their prior commitment to them. Because the U.S was giving supplies to the allies while they pronounced their state of neutrality, they had to enter the war. Giving supplies to the allies and not the other side was not the first thing they did wrong however, they decided to loan money and munitions in the first place. If the U.S had not lent out money in the first place they would not have been in a position where they had to enter the way and help the allied side. The U.S.’s involvement in Iraq was just due to the fact that they were trying to help change what they thought were bad things like Roosevelt’s Big stick diplomacy. There was a good and just cause to enter the war and many felt like it was worth it if it would help make peace.
Larry - N: A solid start but not detailed and doesn't reflect that you read the articles assigned
Chris- N+ : Same comment as larry's
Many wars were fought for unjust reasons.Conise the war in iraq, and how the U.S. has had troops there for over 5years already. This war in my oppinion is just because the us did not start problems, and we were bombed and had no choiceto go to war.If the U.S. knew that we were going to go to war for a stupid reason then i would say it is unjust. Not many wars are just in my oppinion because many problems can be settled without war, i agree with ian tthat sometimes war is nessessary and will get you closer to peace.
Overall, what constitutes a just war would depend if the reason it is beinf fought for. If it is self defence it is just, and if not than the war is not just.
In my opinion, war of any kind isn’t just. But to make the public accept it they must make it seem like there is a reason for it to be right. In order for war to be just, there has to be an actual reason to start a war. You can’t go to another country and say well I don’t like you guys I want a war. I don’t think the US had a justified reason when they joined Great Brittan in the war. They made it seem as if they wanted to be the peacemakers and help Britain end the war. But what better way to make peace to promote peace and stay out of the war instead of joining it. I don’t believe that the US’ involvement in the war in Iraq is just either. There is no real explanation as to why it was necessary for us to go into war. Like Ian said they tried to link the war with the 9/11 attacks, and that was reason enough. Although we really have no evidence. In both conflicts the countries were having problems with another country and in both wars the US wanted to come in and “spread democray where I feel there were ulterior motives in both cases. In all war is not just, I think we should settle problems by taking and agreeing on a solution instead of people dying for an unjust cause.
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