Rules of war

There are two main concepts in the philosophy and jurisprudence of war: jus ad bellum and jus in bello. The first relates to the grounds for entering the war, the second to the rules for conducting the war itself. These vessels are connected, but they are different. It is important to understand that if someone enters a war on an unjust occasion, he can fight in the most gentlemanly ways, but this does not make his war just. Moreover, it is often the conqueror who can dress up in the coat of a humanist and peacemaker. For example, to say that it hits only military targets, to offer everyone to hand over their weapons "in order to avoid bloodshed." As Carl von Clausewitz wrote: “The conqueror always wants peace, because he wants to enter the country without obstacles, in order to stop him, we must choose war.” The reverse is also true: someone can wage the most just defensive war, but do so in ways that will make the whole world vomit. For example, mock prisoners. So the Americans in Vietnam waged an unjust war, and the Viet Cong engaged in terror in response. Does this somehow whitewash American intervention? No. Does American intervention justify Viet Cong methods? Also no.

But why would the side for whom the initial moral rightness, in general, observe any rules of war? In addition to the general considerations of humanism, then to avoid their own barbarization. Sometimes dubious methods can bring immediate benefits (although more often they harm), however: at what cost? At the cost of his own transformation into the Viet Cong and the like. The muzzle of a rifle gives rise to power - these are the words of Mao Zedong, the theorist and practitioner of guerrilla warfare, who also wrote that prisoners should be treated humanely, however, when a sabotage group is on the move, then prisoners should not be taken. In general, a rifle gives rise to power, but it is worth considering WHOSE power it gives rise to. And do you want to end up with just such a power after the onset of peace? After all, the habits acquired during the fighting will not dissolve like a morning mist.

Mihail Pojarsky 2022-03-28