Did NATO Military Action Against Yugoloslavia Violate Just War Theory?

By: YES: Kristi and Jen

NO: Jill and Sharon

The Just War Theory

The Just War Theory deals with the justification of how and why wars are fought

The justification can be either theoretical or historical

The theoretical aspect is concerned with ethically justifying war and forms of warfare

The historical aspect, or the “just war tradition” deals with the historical body of rules or agreements applied (or at least existing) in various wars across the ages

Just War Theory, Continued

In general terms, the Just War Theory demands: That there must be sufficient and just reason for

going to war, There must be legitimate authority to declare war It must be waged by appropriate means There must be prospects of success And all other avenues must have been previously

exhausted Levels of violence should not exceed what is

necessary to achieve the mission at hand War must end in a peace better than the situation

before the war started

NATO

Stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization Comprised of most of the countries of Western

Europe, Canada and United States They agreed to come to the assistance of any

member should it be attacked Built against the threat of Warsaw Treaty

Organization in 1949 New Strategic Concept: developed after the Cold

War, which reduced standing military forces and allowed them to focus on crisis response

Had 16 members since 1982. In 1999, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic joined

Has achieved a higher level of political and military cooperation among its membership than virtually any other organization in the world

Yugoslavia, Location

Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia was divided into eight provinces after WWII

Various religions in the state (influenced by surrounding countries) i.e. Christian in Croatia, Catholic in Serbia, Orthodox in Serbia and Macedonia, and Islam in Kosovo and Albania

Serbia/Montenegro were the core of Yugoslavia and had the majority of power in the region

Slovenia and Croatia felt isolated and declared their independence in 1991 war started

War spread to Bosnia in 1992 1995: Dayton Agreement brought peace War started again in Kosovo in 1999

Kosovo Kosovo is in Serbia with mostly Albanian people Until 1989, they had autonomy 1989, President Slobodan Milosevic removes autonomy and placed

Kosovo under Serbian control Albanians forced out of political roles, ethnic cleansing and

discrimination begins 1998, Serbian police/military versus Kosovo and Albanian forces 1500 deaths and 400,000 refugees May 28, 1998, NATO meets to discuss involvement NATO’s Objectives:

Achieve a peaceful resolution Stabilize and secure neighbouring countries (especially Albania and

Macedonia) Oct. 13, 1998, NATO orders air strikes but at the last minute, Milosevic

agrees to comply and back off so they’re called off UN gets involved UN Security council resolution 1199:

Calls for ceasefire Limits number of Serbian troops allowed in Kosovo verification Mission

(KUM) to observe compliance NATO agrees to observe with aerial surveillance

Kosovo, Continued Violence returns in 1999 Jan. 29, 1999, Nation Contact Group meets and encourages

negotiation between parties Jan. 30, 1999, NATO warns Milosevic force will be used if he doesn’t

back off Feb. 6-23, 1999, negotiations in Rambouillet, France – NATO makes

demands on Serbia March 15-18, another peace negotiation

Kosovo and Albania agree to sign a drafted peace proposal Serbia refuses

Serbia moves more forces into Kosovo (they’re having no success there because of Serbian opposition)

March 23, 1999, Operation Allied Force begins NATO bombing campaign lasts for 78 days (aerial campaign, no

ground troops deployed) June 9, 1999, agreement made between NATO and the Federal

Republic of Yugoslavia June 10, Serbian forces begin pulling out of Kosovo (completely gone

by June 20)

Kosovo, Continued June 12, 1999: NATO and UN troops begin “clean-up” K-For: 50,000 people under unified control contributed by 12 countries

(help with clean-up) By the end of the war, refugees are scattered:

Albania430,000 people Macedonia230,000 people Montenegro64,000 people Bosnia21,500 people Other61,000 people

58,000 Kosovars are homeless By the end of May, 1999, 1.5 million people (90% of Kosovo’s

population) had been expelled from their homes 225,000 Kosovar men missing (5000+executed) Animosity between people still exists There are still many unexploded mines and cluster bombs Economic downturn (civilian infrastructure destroyed), lots of

unemployment Milosevic remained in power until his government was overthrown in

2002 by popular uprising New elections brought Vojuslav Kostunica to power

Yes Side: Components of Just War Theory That Have Been Violated

Legitimate Authority Waged by Appropriate Means All Other Attempts Have Been Made Levels of Violence Should Not Exceed What

is Necessary to Achieve the Mission at Hand War Must End in a Peace Better Than the

Situation Before The War Started

Yes Side: NATO’s Mistake The Double Standard:

Fought to free Kosovo but ignored the ethnic cleansing in Chechnya, East Timor, etc.

Could this be because Kosovo has some of the richest mineral resources in Europe?

Bombing Inaccuracies: Flying high reduced accuracy of bombs hitting targets (as

much as 2/3 km off) Densely populated and residential areas became targets Chinese embassy bombed Civilian infrastructure targeted (ie. Hospital, water plants,

bridges, apartments) One month of NATO bombing caused more damage than by the

Nazis occupation of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945

Yes: NATO’s Mistakes, Continued

Depleted Uranium: 10 tonnes of DU used in shells by NATO illegally DU causes long term damage to lungs and kidneys and may

lead to cancer Cluster Bombs

1392 dropped: not all exploded so they are still causing casualties

Broke Geneva Convention: “Equipment deployed in battlefield must not be lethally effective after peace treaty is signed”

UN formed MACC (a mine cleaning association) to find cluster bombs: 47+ dead, 97+ wounded and many are still unfound in less frequented areas of the country

No Side: Components of Just War Theory That Have Been Obeyed

There must be sufficient and just reason for going to war

There must be legitimate authority to declare war

It must be waged by appropriate means There must be prospects of success All other avenues must have been previously

exhausted Levels of violence should not exceed what is

necessary to achieve the mission at hand

No Side: Milosevic’s Reign Discrimination towards ethnic Albanians Forced deportation by the thousands In 12 weeks, more than 850,00 ethnic Albanians

were expelled from Kosovo by Serbian military, police and paramilitaries

Houses looted, entire villages burned Refugees robbed and beaten Thousands of women and some children raped-

systematic and organized rape Adult males detained and executed by the hundreds Arbitrary arrest and detentions Contamination of water wells Target killings and mass graves Between March 24-June 12, 1999

Pictures

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