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Justice And Justification In The War On Terrorism, Emma Norman

Emma R. Norman

This paper offers a few preliminary reflections on some ethical implications stemming from the disconnect between the moral rhetoric and the reality of the War on Terrorism. I suggest that the Bush Administration certainly shares a large part of the responsibility for constantly attempting to justify a war that, by the standards of traditional just war theory, is almost impossible to see as just. However, I also suggest that part of the responsibility lies with a public that demands high ethical standards of its public officials, but appears to be ultimately unprepared to face the full consequences of acting ethically …