The purpose of war
[ by Charles Cameron — breaking the grip of the war and peace, militant vs pacifist duality, with justice as the proposed “missing” third ingredient ]
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The purpose of war is never peace in the beginning, or there’d be no need of it, no starting point.
Similarly, the purpose of war once initiated is generally peace, but with qualifications — peace that’s in the national interest first and foremost among them, especially if you’re willing to include “the Ummah” among the nations in making that statement.
But I keep getting the feeling there’s more that needs to be untangled. As my example of the Ummah shows — and Christendom or the Anglosphere would suit my point equally well — all manner of identifiers from the tribal to the global can be the ones in need of defense (or adduced in favor of aggressive attack).
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Here, I want to zoom in and look for a global imperative that respects both Western and Islamic sensibilities, and is simple enough to make sense to me, sense of my own basic perplexity.
And I think I have it.
The purpose of war is justice, and the purpose of justice is peace.
That formulation doesn’t admit of wars of aggression — which at the simplistic level I am dealing at are inherently unjust (Jus ad bellum i: Just cause) — but it comprehends that wars (and we arrive on the scene in media res) lead to peace, but with an intervening caveat: with justice.
And it fits the explicit statement in the Qur’an, 2.190:
Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.
and also this very interesting verse, 57.25, which gives the other one context:
We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
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I’m a simple soul, and no doubt these thoughts of mine have been preceded by others — some in agreement, some in opposition to my line of thinking. I’m naturally interested in your own views, and in those of earlier thinkers that you can quote to me either way — but I am posting this here, as my first post in the role of ZP’s managing editor, because I feel far too much thought goes into the dualism of war and peace — from Tolstoy‘s celebrated novel via George Orwell‘s War is Peace in 1984 to Strategic Air Command‘s Peace is our Profession —
— when the simplest level at which we begin to understand its loops, recursions and possible exit signs requires a three-fold logic that includes justice along with war and peace on an equal footing.
Have at it, friends!
October 12th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
“woe to the conquered”
– Livy
October 12th, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Indeed, although the victors commonly suffer a great deal too.
October 12th, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita libri, 5.48, The sack of Rome, 387 BC:
7. At last not only food but hope failed them.
VII. postremo spe quoque iam non solum cibo
Whenever the sentinels went on duty, their feeble frames almost crushed by the weight of their armor,
deficiente et cum stationes procederent prope obruentibus infirmum corpus armis
the army insisted that they should either surrender or purchase their ransom on the best terms they could,
vel dedi vel redimi se quacumque pactione possent iussit,
for the Gauls were throwing out unmistakable hints
iactantibus non obscure Gallis haud magna mercede se
that they could be induced to abandon the siege for a moderate consideration.
adduci posse ut obsidionem relinquant.
8. A meeting of the senate was now held,
VIII. tum senatus habitus
and the consular tribunes were empowered to make terms.
tribunisque militum negotium datum ut paciscerentur.
A conference took place between Q. Sulpicius, the consular tribune, and Brennus, the Gaulish chieftain,
inde inter Q. Sulpicium tribunum militum et Brennum regulum Gallorum
and an agreement was arrived at by which 1000 lbs. of gold was fixed
conloquio transacta res est, et mille pondo auri
as the ransom of a people destined ere long to rule the world.
pretium populi gentibus mox imperaturi factum
9. This humiliation was great enough as it was, but it was aggravated
XI. rei foedissimae per se adiecta indignitas est
by the despicable meanness of the Gauls, who produced unjust weights,
pondera ab Gallis allata iniqua,
and when the tribune protested, the insolent Gaul threw his sword into the scale,
et tribuno recusante additus ab insolente Gallo ponderi gladius,
with an exclamation intolerable to Roman ears, ‘Woe to the vanquished!’
auditaque intoleranda Romanis vox, Vae victis.
October 13th, 2013 at 2:10 am
< bowing >
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My education continues, where I left it off more than fifty years ago…
October 13th, 2013 at 2:32 am
The purpose of war is justice, and the purpose of justice is peace.
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Thank you, Charles!
October 14th, 2013 at 2:09 am
Very good. Always enjoy your Hegelian calculus.
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This post reminds me of Psalm 144
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Praise be to the Lord my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer
Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy;
shoot your arrows and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners
From the deadly sword deliver me;
rescue me from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
Our barns will be filled
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
our oxen will draw heavy loads.
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.