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¶ … Just War Theory
At it's most basic, the Just War Theory provides a justification as to how and why countries fight wars. The justification offered is both theoretical and historical in that it creates a theory of rules and regulations that, theoretically at least, make war ethical, or just. Historically, this theory has been created by generally accepted rules of combat recognized by two warring sides. Currently, the theory provides the framework for such international laws and treaties as the Geneva Convention.
No war in United States history fully follows the Just War Theory. The closest war to a just war would be World War II. At first glance, World War II seems to be a just war in that the United States did not enter the war until attacked, they followed general rules of engagement such as treatment of prisoners of war (per the Jus in Bello theory), and the fight against Hitler and the Nazi regime against Europe was just in and of itself (per the jus ad bellum theory).
However, after Germany's surrender, the war turned to Japan and the Pacific. Up until the point that the United States dropped the second atomic bomb on Japanese citizens, World War II was a just war. However, dropping the second bomb, perhaps even the first bomb, on innocent civilians, removed the war out of traditional rules of warfare and brought the world into a new phase of combat. Up until that time, the general rules of war prohibited using civilian targets. In fact, Germany was the first one to break this rule and this unjust act was one of the reasons the United States entered the war.
At the time the second bomb was dropped, the war ceased being just. However, after the bomb was dropped, new rules and regulations were created to accommodate this new face of war, therefore changing the rules of the game and thus the definition of a just war.
Bibliography
Bailey, S. Prohibitions and Restraints in war. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972.
Childress, J. "Just War Theories." Theological Studies. 39 (1978), 427-45.
Martin, Glenn R. Prevailing Worldviews of Western Society Since 1500. New York: Triangle Publishing, 2006.
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