When should a Nation go to War?

[BrentWil]

Simple question, but would be interested in our views.

[phasma ex machina]

1. Never. nt

[BrentWil]

2. What if invaded?

Or if peace nations are invaded (i.e. World War II)

[Hugabear]

5. Defending one's nation is different than "going to war"

Going to war implies that you're seeking war against another country, like we did with Iraq and Afghanistan. The only justifiable reason for war is self-defense, if we are directly attacked by another nation.

[phasma ex machina]

7. A tough dilemma. By some accounts India's pacifism caused multiple invasions over the millennia.

OTOH how much does it matter to the little guy if Alexander The Great runs the show?

[sharesunited]

3. When should OUR Nation go to Civil War? That seems to be particularly relevant to ask.

[whathehell]

14. That's easy...When I get the hell out of here and not a minute before n/t

[patrice]

4. Only when everyone knows all of the truth about a situation, when all are responsibly and

actively and directly involved with their authentically democratically elected representation and appropriately educated/free enough to have other life choices besides just being in the military.

Given the aforementioned traits:

When there is no other choice but War to defend against a direct threat to us and to our land.

Or in a balanced coalition with other nations to meet a Human Rights (as opposed to political) need that is limited, concretely well-defined, and achievable.

[Vegetarianist]

6. When it's the right thing to do. When doing so makes the world a better place.

My reasons for supporting or opposing specific wars are different depending on which war it is.

Clear-cut, one-size fit all ideas based solely on philosophy sound nice, but I base my opinions on reality and the details of the specific situation.

I think most people have this common sense idea, but sadly it doesn't show in rhetoric, so I feel the need to state the obvious.

[phasma ex machina]

11. Wars tend to be double edged swords. America's Civil War freed the slaves but

the seeds of empire were planted.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Go back to 1848 for Empire

and yes it was very popular as in Vietnam level popular

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Actually it is not a simple question

and the answer could and has filled volumes.

Suffice it to say it ranges from Grotius Just War Doctrine, to well Continuation of politics by other means... and that is just recent, relatively speaking, Wester Philosophy. I have not even touched on the Five Rings by Musashi or Tsun Tze.

So no, this is not a simple question, nor does it have a simple answer.

Slowly stepping away from the question...

[NuclearDem]

9. Self-defense or stopping wars of aggression

No other reasons.

[Hugabear]

15. Bush the First claimed that Desert Storm was about stopping Iraq's aggression

Not really a big fan of that reasoning, far too easy to manipulate and twist.

[NuclearDem]

16. Yeah, that's true

I still say the WOA rationale is one of my only reasons though.

[Puregonzo1188]

10. Defense only. If invaded.

This is all laid out pretty clearly under international law, as well as in the UN Charter, which was ratified by the Senate I might add.

[Iggo]

13. When it's not already in two other wars?

[Ozymanithrax]

17. That really depends on the events and the players...

Certainly, when attacked, as in WWII. When an alliance with another nation requires it, as in Korea. (This is why Washington warned us about entangling alliances). To protect it's citizens from a clear and present danger. When given no other choice. It will depend on the events.