Third Paper for PLPT 700 (a course taken at the University of Virginia)

8/14/2019 Third Paper for PLPT 700 (a course taken at the University of Virginia)

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Sean Nalty

December 18, 2006

PLPT 700-Third Paper

Is the Iraq War a Humanitarian Intervention? : A Debate between Three Political

Theorists

One o the mo!t contro"er!ial deci!ion! in politic! recently ha! in"ol"ed the

deci!ion to in"ade #ra$ by the !o-called %coalition o the &illin'() #n the month! leadin'

*p to the act*al !tart o military action, the &orld pre!! a'encie! pre!ented the rea!onin'

o politician! both or and a'ain!t inter"ention( On the pro-inter"ention !ide, the

connection o Taliban !*pport &ith +l-aeda! September 11

th

attac.! had con"inced

many o the need or !ome orm o military inter"ention( /y the time that an #ra$i

inter"ention became pop*larly di!c*!!ed, the rationale had chan'ed chiely to acc*!e the

*!!ein re'ime o harborin' eapon! o a!! De!tr*ction 3D!4 and liberatin' the

#ra$i people a! &ell a! the 5*rdi!h minority rom that tyrannical re'ime( Political

theori!t! concerned &ith international *!tice ha"e lon' !o*'ht to create rea!onable moral

!tandard! or permittin' *nilateral or m*ltilateral inter"ention!( ith the inter"ention in

#ra$, there ha! been con!iderable attention in re!*min' di!c*!!ion! that deal &ith the

limitation! o national !o"erei'nty and pre!er"ation o ba!ic h*man ri'ht! aro*nd the

&orld( Thi! paper &ill !ee. to e!tabli!h the limit! o h*manitarian inter"ention rom a

political theory !tandpoint, *!in' the recent (S(-(5( led inter"ention in #ra$ a! a ca!e

!t*dy( elyin' on three repre!entati"e thin.er!, Darrel oellendor, ichael al9er,

and Peter Sin'er, the paper &ill try to e"al*ate the rationale! 'i"en by certain proponent!

and critic! or &ar &ith the maor ar'*ment! o the!e political theori!t!(



One o the maor ar'*ment! ad"anced a'ain!t inter"ention in #ra$ in"ol"ed the

pre!*mption that the !o"erei'n !tat*! o the *!!ein re'ime, &hich claimed to ha"e the

!*pport o the #ra$i people, eecti"ely pre"ented remo"in' that 'o"ernment by orce(

a.in' the ca!e or #ra$i inter"ention in the /riti!h o*!e o :ommon!, Prime ini!ter

Tony /lair e;pected that in the co*r!e o a !*cce!!*l inter"ention in #ra$ to remo"e

Pre!ident Saddam *!!ein, a *t*re N re!ol*tion %!ho*ld protect totally the territorial

inte'rity o #ra$( +nd let the oil re"en*e!<&hich the people al!ely claim &e &ant to

!ei9e<be p*t in a tr*!t *nd or the #ra$i people to be admini!tered thro*'h the N()

3/lair !peech to /riti!h o*!e o :ommon!, arch 18, 200=4 Pre!ident >eor'e (

/*!h, in a !peech beore the N >eneral +!!embly, al!o ar'*ed that the #ra$ inter"ention

&o*ld not interere, b*t rather ad"ance the ca*!e o pop*lar !o"erei'nty &ithin #ra$( #n

ma.in' the ca!e or &ar, he claimed that %The nited State! ha! no $*arrel &ith the #ra$i

people, they"e !*ered too lon' in capti"ity( Liberty or the #ra$i people i! a 'reat

moral ca*!e, and a !trate'ic 'oal() 3/*!h !peech to N >eneral +!!embly, September

12, 20024 Still, a maor h*manitarian 'ro*p that later came o*t in oppo!ition o the &ar,

the *man i'ht! atch, adhered to a more !trictly !tati!t po!ition in the ab!ence o

international cooperation( #n a 200? report, in act, the 'ro*p reminded reader! that %The

Sec*rity :o*ncil did not appro"e o the in"a!ion, and the #ra$i 'o"ernment, it! e;i!tence

on the line, "iolently oppo!ed it() 3*man i'ht! atch orld eport 200?4 +! a re!*lt,

the #ra$ &ar did not meet a ba!ic re$*irement o h*manitarian inter"ention!@ the need or

le'itimacy(

Political theori!t! ha"e al!o 'rappled &ith the problem o re!pectin' !o"erei'nty

&hile lea"in' open the po!!ibility or h*manitarian inter"ention!( Thi! problem i!



e!pecially perple;in' &ithin o*t&ardly democratic !tate!( The i!!*e here re"ol"e! aro*nd

&hether one &i!he! to 'rant !o"erei'nty to the e!tabli!hed 'o"ernment o a people or

only held by the people them!el"e!, &ith 'o"ernment! actin' a! a'ent! o the !o"erei'n

people( Darrel oellendor oer! hi! an!&er to thi! balin' $*e!tion by eecti"ely

!*bordinatin' claim! o !o"erei'nty to notion! o *!tice( Thro*'h hi! !o-called

co!mopolitan conception o !o"erei'nty, oellendor %hold! that an inter"ention into one

o the domain! rea!onably claimed by a !tate i! a "iolation o !o"erei'nty i and only i

the inter"ention &ill not attempt to ad"ance the ca*!e o *!tice either in the ba!ic

!tr*ct*re o the !tate or in the international eect! o it! dome!tic policie!() 3oellendor,

10?4 The bicondititional nat*re o the abo"e !tatement place! a hea"y b*rden on the !tate

acin' inter"ention to *!tiy noninter"ention *nle!! it can pro"e the harm to *!tice and

international peace(

oellendor mi'ht *rther concede the po!!ibility that an inter"ention in #ra$

mi'ht be permi!!ible *nder hi! co!mopolitan conception o !o"erei'nty, !ince appeal! to

!o"erei'nty oten re!t on a cla!!ical analo'y to per!onal property( e reect! thi! "ie&

that !o"erei'nty impo!e! an ab!ol*te ri'ht to domini*m, ar'*in' in!tead that %a ri'ht to

property that incl*de! the ri'ht to do &hate"er one &ant! &ith it i! *ntenableASecond,

and more to the point, property ri'ht! are *!tiied to the e;tent that they protect

important moral intere!t! o indi"id*al! to li"e a! they choo!e() 3oellendor, 1074

De!pite hi! empha!i! on re!pectin' *nity &ithin a nation, oellendor ha! little patience

or ar'*ment! a'ain!t inter"ention that re!t *pon notion! o !hared comm*nity or li"e!(

e di!a'ree! &ith *pholdin' noninter"ention e"en in ca!e! &here the maority ha!

"iolated the h*man ri'ht! o a minority, perhap! thro*'h racial oppre!!ion(



3oellendor, 107-1084 The *!!ein re'ime, tho*'h it claimed to act on behal o all

#ra$i!, mi'ht thereore be !*bect to inter"ention on !trictly h*manitarian 'ro*nd! or it!

per!ec*tion o the Shiite and 5*rdi!h 'ro*p!(

Tho*'h he mi'ht deny the "ie& that the *!!ein re'ime repre!ent! a tr*ly

!o"erei'n entity that may re$*ire other !tate! to 'ain permi!!ion in order to enter #ra$,

oellendor &o*ld certainly cite the pro"i!ion! o +rticle 23?4 in the N :harter to

ar'*e or the permi!!ibility o *nilateral inter"ention! &itho*t the con!ent o all the

Sec*rity :o*ncil member!( Near the be'innin' o hi! boo. on co!mopolitani!m he

interpret! that article %doe! not impo!e an ab!ol*te bar a'ain!t *nilateral inter"ention( #t

&o*ld !eem to permit *nilateral inter"ention that doe! not "iolate territorial inte'rity and

political independence o a !tate and that i! con!i!tent &ith the p*rpo!e! o the N()

3oellendor, ?4 Th*!, it i! entirely concei"able that oellendor mi'ht appro"e at lea!t

o the principle o maintainin' territorial and political *nity p*t orth by Prime ini!ter

Tony /lair &hen he !tated,

+nd let the *t*re 'o"ernment o #ra$ be 'i"en the chance to be'in *nitin' thenation! di!parate 'ro*p!, on a democratic ba!i!, re!pectin' h*man ri'ht!, a!

indeed the led'lin' democracy in Northern #ra$<protected rom Saddam or 12

year! by /riti!h and +merican pilot! in the no-ly 9one<ha! done !o remar.ably(3/lair !peech to /riti!h o*!e o :ommon!, arch 18, 200=4

+lon' &ith it! po!iti"e international eect!, the po!!ibility o an inter"ention de!i'ned to

pre"ent *rther per!ec*tion o ethnic minoritie! mi'ht incline oellendor to a'ree on

thi! point o the limitation! o #ra$i national !o"erei'nty &ith Prime ini!ter /lair and

Pre!ident /*!h(

ichael al9er al!o allo&! or the le'itimacy o inter"ention! o a h*manitarian

character, e"en in internationally reco'ni9ed nation-!tate!( Tho*'h he enco*nter!



a!!ertion! abo*t the moral imperati"e o !o"erei'nty, al9er belie"e! there e;i!t certain

in!tance! &here prohibition! a'ain!t %bo*ndary cro!!in'! Bby orei'n armed orce! areC

not ab!ol*te<in part beca*!e o the arbitrary and accidental character, in part beca*!e o

the ambi'*o*! relation o the political comm*nity or comm*nitie! &ithin tho!e

bo*ndarie! to the 'o"ernment that deend! them() 3al9er, 84 +! noted beore, the

demand! or 'reater a*tonomy amon' #ra$! 5*rdi!h pop*lation &o*ld !*rely con!tit*te

an %ambi'*o*! relation) in the ca!e o al9er! apparent allo&ance or bo*ndary

cro!!in'! by a orei'n po&er into the realm o another !tate(

:ertainly, critic! o the #ra$ &ar mi'ht properly point o*t that al9er al!o note!

ho& orei'n inter"ention! po!e a more diic*lt moral problem than the pre!ence o

internal re"ol*tion! do( ere, al9er di!play! a !tron' pre!*mption a'ain!t orei'n

inter"ention e"en &hen %it i! a brie aair, BitC cannot !hit the dome!tic balance o po&er

in any deci!i"e &ay to&ard the orce! o reedom, &hile i it i! prolon'ed or

intermittently re!*med, it &ill po!e the 'reate!t po!!ible threat to the !*cce!! o tho!e

orce!() 3al9er, 874 hile !preadin' the "al*e! o democracy to tho!e !*ppo!edly

*nder the yo.e o tyranny mi'ht pro"e morally !ati!yin' to ad"ocate! o inter"ention,

the co!t! a!!ociated &ith military action appear to pre"ent any real !*cce!! in the lon'-

term( E*rther, al9er! empha!i! on the importance o !hared comm*nity a! a !tron'

pre!*mption a'ain!t orei'n inter"ention &o*ld al!o tend to re!emble the noninter"ention

ar'*ment! o 'ro*p! li.e *man i'ht! atch(

Still, &hen he addre!!e! the problem o &hether *nilateral inter"ention! can e"er

be le'itimate, al9er doe! in act accept *nilateral action!, b*t only *nder dire

condition!( hile al9er mi'ht preer the !anction o other nation! or international body



beore commencin' an inter"ention, he doe! not re$*ire thi! a! a condition or it! moral

le'itimacy( #ndeed, he !tate! that %orality, at lea!t, i! not a bar to *nilateral action, !o

lon' a! there i! no immediate alternati"e a"ailableAState! dont lo!e their partic*lari!t

character merely by actin' to'ether( # 'o"ernment! ha"e mi;ed moti"e!, !o do

coalition! o 'o"ernment!() 3al9er, 1074 hether al9er &o*ld, in act, a'ree &ith

Pre!ident >eor'e ( /*!h that the &orld comm*nity had e;ha*!ted all other alternati"e!

at compromi!e &hen he a!!erted that %Saddam *!!ein ha! deied all the!e eort! and

contin*e! to de"elop &eapon! o ma!! de!tr*ction) remain! *nclear( 3/*!h !peech to N

>eneral +!!embly, September 12, 20024( hat i! clear, ho&e"er, i! that al9er &o*ld

remain entirely open and e"en preer in!tance! o *nilateral action rather than %to adopt

that po!t*re o pa!!i"ity that mi'ht be called &aitin' or the N 3&aitin' or the me!!iah,

&aitin' or the *ni"er!al !tate4() 3al9er, 1074 #n thi! &ay, al9er, on the ba!i! o hi!

early &ritin'! at lea!t, &o*ld probably not ha"e re$*ired con!en!*! &ithin the Sec*rity

:o*ncil a! a &hen decidin' &hether to inter"ene in #ra$(

O the three political theori!t! reerred to in thi! e!!ay, Peter Sin'er perhap!

come! the clo!e!t to repre!entin' the po!ition o the *man i'ht! atch or'ani9ation

re'ardin' noninter"ention in #ra$( hile Sin'er doe! hold o*t or the po!!ibility o

*!tiied military inter"ention to halt crime! o 'enocide and other ab*!e! o h*man

ri'ht!, he !ee.! an international, rather than national !ol*tion to that problem( Li.enin'

'lobal or'ani9ation! li.e the N to dome!tic la& enorcement, he &i!he! the reader to

con!ider %the la!t line o deen!e a'ain!t 'enocide and !imilar crime! m*!t be la&

enorcement, at a global level , and &here other method! o achie"in' that ail, the

method o la!t re!ort &ill be military inter"ention() 3Sin'er, 1124 Li.e the other t&o



political theori!t!, Sin'er doe! not appear to be "ery impre!!ed &ith !tati!t ar'*ment!

a'ain!t inter"ention, preerrin' in!tead to !ee international in!tit*tion! a! *ltimate arbiter!

in ca!e! in"ol"in' the perpetration o crime! a'ain!t h*man ri'ht!( e pre!ent! a !tron'

ca!e or international or *ni"er!al *ri!diction that &o*ld allo& repre!entati"e! o !tate!

to pro!ec*te orei'n national! or certain atrocitie! and %crime! a'ain!t h*manity()

S*pport or *nilateral inter"ention, thereore, &o*ld !eem incon!i!tent &ith hi! in!i!tence

in pro!ec*tin' alle'ed perpetrator! o h*man ri'ht! "iolation! in accordance &ith

international norm! and not national concern!(

oreo"er, Sin'er! po!ition on !o"erei'nty and hi! !*pport or international

con!en!*! on matter! o criminal pro!ec*tion clo!ely ali'n! &ith the idea! o

or'ani9ation! li.e *man i'ht! atch that

# the p*rpo!e o the inter"ention &a! primarily h*manitarian, then at lea!t one

other option !ho*ld ha"e been tried beore re!ortin' to the e;treme !tep o

military inter"ention<criminal pro!ec*tion( There i! no '*arantee that

pro!ec*tion &o*ld ha"e &or.ed, and one mi'ht ha"e *!tiied !.ippin' it hadlar'e-!cale !la*'hter been *nder&ay( /*t in the ace o the #ra$i 'o"ernment!

mo!t ro*tine ab*!e!, thi! alternati"e to military action !ho*ld ha"e been tried(

3*man i'ht! atch orld eport 200?4

#n !ee.in' inter"ention beore applyin' to ha"e *!!ein placed beore the proper

trib*nal, the #nternational :o*rt o F*!tice, tho!e a"orin' inter"ention *nderc*t their o&n

moral le'itimacy in the eye! o m*ch o the &orld( Perhap! the main rea!on &hy the (S(

!peciically a"oided the ro*te o international trib*nal! dealt &ith that co*ntry! non-

in"ol"ement in the pre!ent #nternational :o*rt o F*!tice, a re*!al that Sin'er concl*de!

!mac.! o moral hypocri!y(

or!e !till, Pre!ident /*!h cited concern! o"er (S( !o"erei'nty a! the maor

rea!on or hi! co*ntry! *n&illin'ne!! to oin that or'ani9ation( #t i! preci!ely beca*!e o



thi! hypocri!y that only the N and other 'lobal or'ani9ation! po!!e!! the moral

a*thority, in Sin'er! e!timation, to %concei"ably de"elop an a*thoritati"e proced*re or

!peciyin' &hen inter"ention i! *!tiied() 3Sin'er, 1274 Ta.in' i!!*e &ith the other t&o

theori!t!, &ho !till accept !ome need or *nilaterali!m, Sin'er denie! that thi! can really

e"er &or. a! a le'itimate principle o h*manitarian inter"ention( !in' hi! &ritin'! a! a

'*ide, one co*ld !pec*late that he &o*ld mo!t li.ely deno*nce any rationale or the #ra$

inter"ention that !o*'ht to *!tiy it on the need or an immediate *nilateral re!pon!e to

the *!!ein re'ime! !*ppo!ed po!!e!!ion o D! and h*man ri'ht! ab*!e!(

#n a!!e!!in' the *!tiication or &ar, both proponent! and opponent! o the #ra$

inter"ention ha"e relied *pon their *nder!tandin'! o the li.ely con!e$*ence! o action(

Eor many proponent!, the remo"al rom po&er o a tyrant in Pre!ident Saddam *!!ein

promi!e! the be'innin' o an optimi!tic *t*re or the people o #ra$( The !pread o

democratic "al*e! in the iddle Ga!t re'ion &o*ld pre!*mably lead to le!! o an o"ert

commitment to the deen!e o #!rael and contrib*te to lon'-term tran$*ility in the re'ion(

Opponent!, by contra!t, ha"e repeatedly noted the horror! o &ar, e!pecially the

po!!ibility o ci"ilian ca!*altie! and the 'eneral in!tability in #ra$ and el!e&here

thro*'ho*t the re'ion(

Nearly all three political theori!t! ma.e the rea!onable proection or !*cce!! o

an inter"ention a maor i!!*e in e!tabli!hin' it! o"erall le'itimacy( oellendor all*de!

to the con!e$*ence! o "iolence &hen he ac.no&led'e! that peace may depend on the

ri'ht to .ill( Eor him, %all that i! re$*ired to e!tabli!h the claim that *!tice !ometime!

o*t&ei'h! peace i! to demon!trate that there are time! &hen it i! ri'ht to .ill i nece!!ary

to pre"ent or o"ercome an in*!tice() 3oellendor, 11=4 Pre"ention o an in*!tice &a!



e;actly &hat Pre!ident /*!h pre!ented a! hi! main aim in 'oin' to &ar &ith #ra$(

+r'*in' beore the N >eneral +!!embly, the (S( pre!ident a!!erted that %# &e ail to

act in the ace o dan'er, the people o #ra$ &ill contin*e to li"e in br*tal !*bmi!!ionA

The B*!!einC re'ime &ill remain *n!table<the re'ion &ill remain *n!table, &ith little

hope or reedom, and i!olated rom the pro're!! o o*r time!() 3/*!h !peech to N

>eneral +!!embly, September 12, 20024 Th*!, Pre!ident /*!h! rationale or pre"enti"e

action re!t! *pon the momento*! con!e$*ence! o inaction in the ace o a real in*!tice(

G"en &hile oellendor po!ition appear! to coincide &ith thi! oicial !tatement

concernin' pre"enti"e mea!*re! a'ain!t #ra$, hi! po!ition on *!tiied h*manitarian

inter"ention al!o demand! a rea!onable pro!pect or !*cce!! and impro"ement in the li"e!

o tho!e it !ee.! to help( On both the!e acco*nt!, it &o*ld appear that the #ra$ &ar ha!

not pro"en it!el to be an acceptable orm o h*manitarian inter"ention( The *man

i'ht! atch or'ani9ation airmed oellendor! !tance on the li.elihood o !*cce!! in

their 200? orld eport, &ritin' %Hicio*! a! hi! BSaddam!C r*le &a!, chao! or ab*!i"e

ci"il &ar mi'ht &ell become e"en deadlier, and it i! too early to !ay &hether !*ch

"iolence mi'ht !till emer'e in #ra$() 3*man i'ht! atch orld eport 200?4

:onirmin' the!e dire prediction!, a more recent report, prepared by the /riti!h medical

o*rnal The Lancet , e!timated &ell o"er I0,000 #ra$i ci"ilian! had lo!t their li"e! !ince

the commencement o the #ra$ &ar( + rather dramatic !tati!tic rom the report pointed

o*t that %Since arch 200=, an additional 2(I percent o #ra$! pop*lation ha"e died

abo"e &hat &o*ld ha"e occ*rred &itho*t conlictB(C) 3%The *man :o!t o ar in #ra$,)

October 11, 20064 :learly, !*ch i'*re! point to the &or!enin' rather than amelioration

o the condition o the #ra$i people ater the military inter"ention(



hile the i!!*e o !*cce!! o inter"ention and it! impact *pon the #ra$i people

oer! po&er*l e"idence a'ain!t inter"ention, the $*e!tion o &hether the leader! o the

nation! that repre!ented the !o-called %coalition o the &illin') *nder!tood the pro!pect!

or !*cce!! !eem! *nclear( Eor in!tance, the contro"er!y o"er the !o*rce! o the (S(-

(5( intelli'ence re'ardin' the i!!ile-'rade %yello& ca.e) *rani*m and the *!!ein!

p*rported attempt! to 'ain it rom the Ni'erian! contin*e! to pro"o.e heated debate(

oellendor &o*ld probably e;c*!e a*lty intelli'ence rom hi! moral calc*l*!, !ince

leader! &ho ba!e their deci!ion! *ltimately *pon it &o*ld be '*ilty o %mi!*d'ment o

the li.elihood o !*cce!!) on the ba!i! o intelli'ence o*nd !*b!e$*ently to be o a

la&ed nat*re( 3oellendor, 114 + more !erio*! char'e, tho*'h, pertain! to &hether

the /*!h +dmini!tration and /lair >o"ernment acti"ely manip*lated the intelli'ence to

achie"e the de!ired rationale or &ar( #n that ca!e, oellendor &o*ld almo!t certainly

!ide a'ain!t an inter"ention ba!ed *pon a p*blic lie( Pro"in' the ca!e or manip*lation o

intelli'ence one &ay or the other, ho&e"er, mi'ht pro"e to be rather diic*lt at the

pre!ent moment(

Tryin' to a!certain *!t &hat tho!e po!!ible moti"e! and ho& that aect! the

!*cce!! o an inter"ention pre!ent! !omethin' o a thorny dilemma or al9er( Erom the

on!et o hi! di!c*!!ion o h*manitarian inter"ention, he admit! that e!tabli!hin' the moral

p*rity o moti"e! or inter"ention %i! e!pecially diic*lt in a liberal democracy &here the

mi;ed moti"e! o the 'o"ernment relect the pl*rali!m o the !ocietyAOne cannot

inter"ene on their behal and a'ain!t their end!( # dont &ant to ar'*e that the p*rpo!e! o

the oppre!!ed are nece!!arily *!t or that one need accept them in their entirety() 3al9er,

10?4 +!certainin' &hether the con!e$*ence! ollo& rom the ori'inal obecti"e! o the



inter"ention th*! become! !omethin' o a '*e!!in' 'ame to tho!e &itho*t in!ider

.no&led'e( Ne"erthele!!, al9er lar'ely a'ree! &ith ello& theori!t oellendor that

the end! o the inter"ention m*!t be po!iti"e or tho!e aided by it( F*!tice or al9er,

then, relie! *pon con!ideration! o pr*dence &here

+ !tate contemplatin' inter"ention or co*nter-inter"ention &ill or pr*dentialrea!on! &ei'h the dan'er to it!el, b*t it m*!t al!o, and for moral reasons, &ei'h

the dan'er! it! action! &ill impo!e on the people it i! de!i'ned to beneit and on

all other people &ho may be aected( +n inter"ention i! not *!t i it !*bect!

third partie! to terrible ri!.!@ the !*bection cancel! the *!tice( 3al9er, I4

>i"en the c*rrent co*r!e o e"ent! in #ra$, it remain! airly !ae to !ay that the $*ality o

lie or ordinary #ra$i! ater military inter"ention ha! in !ome ca!e! declined and th*!

call! into $*e!tion the moral le'itimacy o inter"ention( hether the (S(, (5(, and

other member! o the coalition o the &illin' all entered into the &ar or the %moral

rea!on!) !tip*lated by al9er i! a $*e!tion that lac.! a deiniti"e an!&er at thi! time(

+ny action &hich in it! con!e$*ence! treat! h*man bein'! a! mean! to an end, in

contra"ention o 5antian ethic!, !imply doe! re!pect h*man di'nity or al9er and

oellendor(

Li.e the t&o political theori!t! mentioned abo"e, Sin'er *lly ac.no&led'e! the

heino*! con!e$*ence! o &ar!, e"en tho!e in the name o h*manitarian concern( #ndeed,

he pre!ent! to hi! reader! a "ery blea. "ie& o h*man nat*re 'enerally, &here .illin' ha!

been a part o the !pecie! !ince earlie!t time!( Gn'a'ed in a balancin' act bet&een

*ncontrolled "iolence and the *!e o orce to create a la!tin' peace, Sin'er contend! that

e"en tho*'h internationally-!anctioned inter"ention!

co*ld lead to an increa!e in &ar, thi! ri!. m*!t be &ei'hed a'ain!t the pro!pect o

!*pportin' democracy and red*cin' the n*mber o 'o"ernment! that are little

more than 'an'! o bri'and! pilla'in' a co*ntry o"er &hich their '*n! hold

!&ayAar ca*!e! immen!e !*erin' and lo!! o lie, and !ho*ld al&ay! be a la!t



the *!!ein re'ime( ore li.ely, the!e theori!t! &o*ld tend to conc*r &ith the

!entiment! o or'ani9ation! li.e the *man i'ht! atch, &hich !a& inter"ention in #ra$

a! *!tiiable %not only to !top on'oin' !la*'hter b*t al!o to pre"ent *t*re !la*'hter, b*t

the *t*re !la*'hter m*!t be imminent() 3*man i'ht! atch orld eport 200?4 #n

order to pro"e the need or h*manitarian inter"ention, &hether o a *nilateral or

international character, one &o*ld ha"e to demon!trate the harm bein' done to ci"ilian!

either in the pre!ent or in the immediate *t*re(

One $*e!tion not addre!!ed by the theori!t! and apparently a!!*med by

policyma.er! re'ardin' #ra$ i! &hether an inter"ention &o*ld lead to po!iti"e

demon!tration! o !*pport by ci"ilian!( G"en &hile ima'e! o #ra$i! celebratin' the all

o the *!!ein re'ime illed ma!! media report! o the initial !ta'e! o the inter"ention,

the con!e$*ence! o mo*ntin' ca!*altie! and a ne& #ra$i 'o"ernment illed &ith !ectarian

di"i!ion!, pre!ent at be!t a mi;ed e"al*ation or the !*cce!! o the #ra$ inter"ention and at

&or!t a ri!. o labelin' it an o*tri'ht ail*re( hile the &ord! o the three political

theori!t! oer ca*tionary ad"ice to tho!e leader! *r'in' *t*re inter"ention!, the problem

o conrontin' man! inh*manity to&ard hi! ello& man lea"e! little do*bt o the

contin*ance o the debate o"er &hat con!tit*te! a proper h*manitarian inter"ention(

Third Paper for PLPT 700 (a course taken at the University of Virginia)

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Transcript of Third Paper for PLPT 700 (a course taken at the University of Virginia)