The Just War Myth

Whether the Bush administration's actions in the run up to the invasion of Iraq were those of misguided idealists or cynical manipulators, their reliance on just war principles to justify their invasion illustrates the dangers of what Fiala (philosophy, California State U.) dubs the "just war myth." Whereas just war theory ought to guide us towards an understanding of how difficult it is to fight a war with justice, it is instead often used as a shield to fend off such judgments, thus becoming a myth that shelters war from criticism. Guided by this perspective, Fiala offers his thoughts on war and pacifism in general and, more specifically, on the invasion of Iraq and the "War on Terror." Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).