America’s fight
in Afghanistan
is a ‘just’ war
The issue: Is the American assault
on Afghanistan morally justified?
In calling on the nation to fight what he has called "a new kind of war," President Bush has so far generated strong public support for the bombing of Afghanistan, its Taliban rulers and the terrorist network of Osama bin Laden. True, dissenting voices have been raised, but that has been true throughout American history and they have stayed within the bounds of acceptable debate.Even so, there is an undercurrent of anxiety: "Is this war morally justified?" As Michael Walzer points out in his classic study, "Just and Unjust Wars": "For as long as men and women have talked about war, they have talked about it in terms of right and wrong."
A reasoned answer: Yes, so long as the military action is intended to defend America and to preclude renewed attacks on innocent compatriots, and is not for revenge. Moreover, the American assault can be justified so long as it is measured force directed at military targets, including those who ordered the terrorist attacks, and not at Afghans who are as innocent as the victims of the atrocities of Sept. 11.
Sir Michael Howard, the retired Oxford don who is perhaps the preeminent military historian in the Western world, wrote recently in the Times of London that bin Laden's terrorists are "outlaws whose use of force is illegitimate and in whose suppression force can legitimately can be used."
In the same vein, the Rev. Bryan Hehir, a Roman Catholic priest who is chairman of the Harvard Divinity School's executive committee, was quoted in the Boston Globe: "If you hold this teaching of just war, what you're arguing is that in certain well-defined circumstances, force can be used to prevent aggression against the lives and rights of others."
Martin Marty, the prominent Protestant scholar retired from the University of Chicago's Divinity School influenced by the the late theologian, Reinhold Neibuhr, wrote in his electronic newsletter, "Insight": "I picture Reinhold Niebuhr urging us on in pursuit of the terrorists, and encouraging us to keep our cause, our side, our flag, our nation, our ways of life 'under examination.'"
Nor is the doctrine of just war confined to the Judeo-Christian West. The holy book of Islam, the Koran, says: "Fight for the sake of Allah (God) those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. Allah does not love the aggressors. Kill them wherever you find them ... But do not fight them within the precincts of the Holy Mosque unless they attack you there; if they attack you, put them to the sword."
Clearly, putting Osama bin Laden and his thugs to the sword, even if the sword is in the hands of a B-1 bomber pilot, is morally just.
Senate bill would aid
aviation securityThe issue: The Senate has unanimously
approved an aviation security bill that would
federalize airport baggage screening.
SECURITY at airports and in commercial airlines would be vastly improved by legislation approved by the Senate. House Republican leaders should drop their opposition to the bill's assignment of baggage screening to federal employees so the legislation can receive prompt approval and adequate aviation security can be provided as soon as possible.The Sept. 11 attack on America would not have occurred if the measures included in the Senate bill had been in effect. The bill calls for reinforcing doors to make cockpits accessible only to pilots and expanding a program that places armed federal marshals on airplanes. All baggage, instead of some, would be X-rayed before being put on planes.
An important part of the bill would create a new Department of Justice work force of 28,000 people to screen passengers, checked luggage and carry-on bags at 142 major airports, including Honolulu International. Smaller airports, such as those on neighbor islands, would use either the new federal employees or, at federal expense, state and local law-enforcement officers.
The new federal employees would undergo a week of classroom training and 60 hours of on-the-job instruction and be required to pass annual operational tests. The transition would take about six months and the yearly cost would be $1.2 billion to $2 billion, to be covered by a passenger surcharge of $2.50 per boarding.
Norman Y. Mineta, the secretary of transportation, has cautioned that a transition could be chaotic, but officials have indicated that the Bush administration would accept the change. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the majority whip, opposes federalizing the screeners but lacks the votes to retain screening by companies that submitted low bids for contracts and pay employees minimum wages.
"This is a function of government," Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., said of airport security. "No one is putting in measures to privatize the Capitol police or the Secret Service. We are going to give some protection to the traveling public."
The Senate and House have approved anti-terrorism bills that would give the government greater surveillance and investigatory powers. In this case, the House version is preferable because it contains a "sunset" clause that would require congressional action to extend certain electronic-surveillance powers more than three years.
Both pieces of legislation are crucial and should not be subject to partisan conflict that could jeopardize their enactment. Fortunately, members of Congress from both parties have shown a spirit of unity in responding to the present emergency.
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, President
John Flanagan, publisher and editor in chief 529-4748; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Frank Bridgewater, managing editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, assistant managing editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
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