Modern Warfare

Question 1

What is war?

Answer 1

Attempt by one state to either:

Defended itself against another state.

Try to take something, e.g. land, resources or freedom, from another power.

Question 2

What is a civil war?

Answer 2

Armed conflict between different groups within same country.

Question 3

What is terrorism?

Answer 3

Illegally using violence and intimidation to pursue political or ideological goal.

Question 4

What are the causes of war?

Answer 4

War fought to defend ally.
War is defensive response to attack.
War fought to gain freedom from occupying force.
War fought to get rid of dictator.
War fought to stop injustice.
War fought to gain land and resources.

Question 5

What is the Just War tradition?

Answer 5

Christian theory with the belief that taking human life is wrong but countries have duty to protect and defend their citizens.

Question 6

What is the purpose of the Just War theory?

Answer 6

Guide a state when faced with potential threat and conflict situations.

Question 7

What are some just causes for going to war?

Answer 7

In self-defense against enemy’s attack.
To defend the innocent.
To prevent anticipated attacks by potential enemy.
To help neighbour state that has been attacked.

Question 8

What scholar is associated with the Just War theory?

Answer 8

St Thomas Aquinas.

Question 9

What is the criteria for a just war?

Answer 9

1. Must be last resort.
2. Must be lawfully declared by government with authority to declare war.
3. Must be cause and proper intention for war.
4. Must be reasonable chance of success.
5. Good gained by winning war must be greater than evil caused by fighting it.
6. Must be proportionality.
7. Innocent civilians should not be killed.
8. Peace must be restore at the end.

Question 10

What is the Christian opinion on the Just War tradition?

Answer 10

Catholic Church supported concept of Just War: “While dangers of war remains…Governments cannot be denied the right to defence if they have exhausted every peaceful means of settlement.”

Force may be used only to correct grave, public evil, e.g. aggression or massive violation of basic rights of whole populations.

Too often been used to endorse rather than prevent or limit war, can undermine efforts to develop alternative capacities and tools for conflict to be overcome and transformed.

Question 11

What are weapons of mass destruction (WMD)?

Answer 11

Weapons capable of killing lots of people at one time.

Question 12

What are the types of weapons of mass destruction?

Answer 12

Chemical weapons
Biological weapons
Nuclear weapons

Question 13

When were chemical weapons first developed?

Answer 13

During WW1 by British and Germans.

Question 14

What damage can chemical weapons cause?

Answer 14

Choking, violent skin irritation and blistering.
Attacks on nervous system.
Psychological reactions.
Destruction of environment.

Question 15

What are some examples of chemical weapons?

Answer 15

Nerve gases and agents.
Mustard gas.
Tear gas.

Question 16

What is the appeal of chemical weapons?

Answer 16

Ability to cause mass casualties or damage to enemy with only limit risk to country using chemicals.

Question 17

When were chemical weapons banned?

Answer 17

1925 through Geneva Protocol.

Question 18

What damage can biological weapons cause?

Answer 18

Sickness or death in humans or animals.
Destroy crops.
Contaminate water supplies.

Question 19

What damage can nuclear weapons cause?

Answer 19

Explosion destroys large areas.
Provides radiation, initially releases intense heat that can cause fires and serious burns to humans and animals.
Cause radiation poisoning among humans and animals.
Cause radiation sickness and organ damage, often fatal among closest to explosion.
Lead to various types of cancer.

Question 20

How long can the damaged caused by nuclear explosions last for?

Answer 20

Week, months, even years through radioactive fallout.

Question 21

What is nuclear deterrence?

Answer 21

Military doctrine that enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons if could be destroyed as consequence.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

Question 22

What attempts of nuclear disarmament were made during the 1960s and 1970s?

Answer 22

Reduce number of weapons held by superpowers.

Prevent nuclear proliferation.

Question 23

What is nuclear proliferation?

Answer 23

Weapons spreading to other countries and becoming more numerous.

Question 24

What were the aims of Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Answer 24

Encourage peaceful nuclear co-operation.

Nuclear-weapon states allowed to keep their weapons but not give them to any other states.

Non-nuclear-weapon states allowed to develop nuclear technology but only for peaceful purposes.

Begin nuclear disarmament of nuclear weapons.

Question 25

What are the arguments for nuclear deterrence?

Answer 25

Nuclear weapons are a deterrent. People feel safer if country has nuclear weapons. Immoral for country not to protect their citizens by whatever means possible. There has been no use of nuclear weapons since 1945. If country can afford it they should protect their citizens by having nuclear weapons.

Question 26

What are the arguments against nuclear deterrence?

Answer 26

Nuclear weapons are unreliable way for state to protect itself, e.g. Britain’s nuclear weapons did I not stop Argentina from seizing the Falkland Islands in 1982. Nuclear weapons lead to people living in fear, Cold War time of heightened tension, not peaceful time. Nuclear weapons are immoral, no religion supports their existence. Proliferation means there is more chance nuclear weapons will be used. Nuclear weapons cost too much money, could be used on healthcare, education etc instead.

Question 27

What are the Catholic Church teachings on nuclear deterrence?

Answer 27

Chief obstacle to elimination of nuclear arms is continued adherence to doctrine of nuclear deterrence. Continuation of nuclear deterrence is driving development of ever newer nuclear arms. The peace promised by nuclear deterrence has led to enormous amounts of money being allocated to modernisation of nuclear weapons while ignoring underlying causes of war.

Question 28

What are the United Methodist Church teachings on nuclear deterrence?

Answer 28

Clear and unconditional no to nuclear war and any use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear deterrence cannot receive church’s blessing.

Question 29

What are the Baptist Church teachings on nuclear deterrence?

Answer 29

Call on all nations to abolish nuclear weapons and dispose of such weapons in manner not harmful to either physical or political environment.

Question 30

What are the human cost of war?

Answer 30

Military Civilians Child soldiers

Question 31

How is the military a human cost of war?

Answer 31

USA lost over 6800 American service members and over 6900 contractors in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. High percentage of young veterans died after returning home as result of drug overdose or suicide. UK lost 179 service members during campaign that followed invasion of Iraq in 2003 and 454 service members in Afghanistan. Many killed by roadside bombs or in clashes with insurgents while on patrol. Hundreds of journalist and staff killed while covering news about wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Question 32

How are civilians a human cost of war?

Answer 32

Civilians often caught in crossfire or killed in bombings by being in wrong place at wrong time. Die at checkpoints, stepping on mine, or run off road by military vehicles. Some kidnapped and executed out of revenge or intimidation. Some maimed as result of burns or lost limbs or suffer mental illness. Become ill after conflict as disease can spread through contaminated drinking water which is exacerbated by limited healthcare as result of conflict. Approx 210,000 civilians suffered violent deaths as result of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Question 33

What is a civilian?

Answer 33

Person who is not a member of an armed force or police force.

Question 34

What are child soldiers?

Answer 34

Children who serve in government force or armed rebel group.

Question 35

How are child soldiers a human cost of war?

Answer 35

Often used due to their emotional and physical immaturity, too young to understand or resist what getting involved in, making them easily manipulated. Children living in poverty most likely to become child soldiers especially if separated from their families or living in war zone, some enticed with food or promise of protection. Some given up by villages or parents in exchange for safety of village. Some forced to kill family member, makes returning home impossible. Work as cooks, guards, messengers and spies. Sent on dangerous missions as less informed and have underdeveloped sense of danger. Some forced to fight on front lines or sent into minefields ahead of older soldiers.

Question 36

How can child soldiers be helped?

Answer 36

Some countries run rehabilitation programmes to help former child soldiers locate families, get back to school and re-enter civilian life. Provided with access to therapy, medical care and education so can begin new life.

Question 37

What is an asylum seeker?

Answer 37

Someone who has fled their country of birth to another country where have presented themselves to authorities and applied for asylum. Legally allowed to remain in country until decision is made.

Question 38

What is a refugee?

Answer 38

Someone who has fled their county if birth to another country where have proved to authorities that it is too dangerous for them to return home. Application for asylum has been granted and allowed to remain.

Question 39

Why do refugees and asylum seekers leave their homes?

Answer 39

Conflict Persecution Natural distaster

Question 40

What are the economic costs of war?

Answer 40

Rise in inflation Increase in national debt Unemployment Decline in tourism

Question 41

How is a rise in inflation an economic cost of war?

Answer 41

Financial uncertainty causes drop in value of savings and investments. Prices pushed up, which leads to reduction in living standards. As people experience poverty also subjected to increased malnutrition, poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare.

Question 42

What is an example of the rise in inflation being an economic cost of war?

Answer 42

In Syria, price of rice rose 723% between March 2011 and November 2015.

Question 43

How is an increase in national debt an economic cost of war?

Answer 43

Governments at war often borrow more money than would at times of peace to finance cost of military. Leads to rise in public sector debt.

Question 44

What is an example of the increase in national debt being an economic cost of war?

Answer 44

In UK, national debt rose sharply in aftermath of 2 world wars. Borrowed money from USA during WW2, took many years to pay back.

Question 45

How is unemployment an economic cost of war?

Answer 45

Destruction of towns, loss of infrastructure and buildings after war has knock-on effect of many companies going out of business. Places of work often destroyed, leaving people with no jobs. Small businesses may struggle if unable to access stock via damaged roads. Unemployment rises and particularly where no unemployment benefit available, leads to worsening effects of poverty. Returning soldiers, especially those with injuries, face limited job opportunities.

Question 46

How is a decline in tourism an economic cost of war?

Answer 46

One of biggest economic blows to country can be affect of war on tourism. E.g. Sharm El Sheikh, Egyptian holiday resort town devastated by bombing of Russian passenger plane after left resort’s airport. Town lost much of tourism that sustained it.

Question 47

What is pacifism?

Answer 47

Belief that war and violence are wrong and cannot be justified.

Question 48

What do pacifist believe?

Answer 48

Conflicts should be settled by peaceful means, may involve positive action to promote justice and human rights.

Question 49

What are the levels of pacifism?

Answer 49

Absolute pacifism Conditional pacifism Selective pacifism

Question 50

What is absolute pacifism?

Answer 50

Believes never right to take part in war, even in self-defence. Human life so precious that nothing can justify deliberately killing a person.

Question 51

What is conditional pacifism?

Answer 51

Against idea of war in general, but accepts sometimes may be extreme circumstances when war is better than alternative.

Question 52

What is selective pacifism?

Answer 52

Opposes only certain type of war, e.g. one involving weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear weapons.

Question 53

What are some of the methods pacifists use to try and bring about change or to resist oppression by non-violent means?

Answer 53

Peaceful demonstrations Strikes in places of work Road blocks Picketing Hunger strikes

Question 54

What are conscientious objectors?

Answer 54

People who through law are allowed to refuse to fight if believe it is wrong thing to do.

Question 55

What are the Bible teachings on pacifism?

Answer 55

Tends to teach that war and violence are wrong and to be avoided, in Old Testament Psalmist expressed need for peace: “Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart.” (Psalm 34:14) War and killing is inevitable and will always be time when it happens: “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses…the time for killing and the time for healing…the time for war and the time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3 and 8) In New Testament, Jesus taught followers to live in peace: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for and eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap you on the left cheek too.” (Matthew 5:38-39) In last week of Jesus’ life, he rebuked his disciple for cutting off servant’s ear with sword, making clear violence not way forward: “All who take the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)

Question 56

What are the Church teachings on pacifism?

Answer 56

All Christians want peace and many are pacifists, but some accept war as inevitable. None of major Christian Churches adopts total pacifist approach. Quakers well known for views in support of pacifism: “We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fighting with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence.” Quakers refuse to join army but help as medics, driving ambulances or taking part in relief work during war. Christians pacifist’s not necessarily condemn use of every kind of force, it refuses to employ force unnecessarily or to destroy others. In history Christians known to fight for God, in Crusades Christians fought against Muslims. Criteria for Just War was devised by Christians.

Question 57

What are the arguments for the pacifism debate?

Answer 57

Belief in sanctity of life. Religious faith. Belief that war is wasteful and destructive.

Question 58

What are the arguments against the pacifism debate?

Answer 58

Country has duty to protect its own people. People have moral duty to carry out certain tasks in war to support their country. Bible allows war.