Sean Nalty December 18, 2006 PLPT 700-Third Paper Is the Iraq War a Humanitarian Intervention?

: A Debate between Three Political Theorists One o the mo!t contro"er!ial deci!ion! in politic! recently ha! in"ol"ed the deci!ion to in"ade #ra$ by the !o-called %coalition o the &illin'() #n the month! leadin' *p to the act*al !tart o military action, the &orld pre!! a'encie! pre!ented the rea!onin' o politician! both or and a'ain!t inter"ention( On the pro-inter"ention !ide, the connection o Taliban !*pport &ith +l-,aeda-! September 11th attac.! had con"inced many o the need or !ome orm o military inter"ention( /y the time that an #ra$i inter"ention became pop*larly di!c*!!ed, the rationale had chan'ed chie ly to acc*!e the 0*!!ein re'ime o harborin' 1eapon! o 2a!! De!tr*ction 312D!4 and liberatin' the #ra$i people a! &ell a! the 5*rdi!h minority rom that tyrannical re'ime( Political theori!t! concerned &ith international 6*!tice ha"e lon' !o*'ht to create rea!onable moral !tandard! or permittin' *nilateral or m*ltilateral inter"ention!( 1ith the inter"ention in #ra$, there ha! been con!iderable attention in re!*min' di!c*!!ion! that deal &ith the limitation! o national !o"erei'nty and pre!er"ation o ba!ic h*man ri'ht! aro*nd the &orld( Thi! paper &ill !ee. to e!tabli!h the limit! o h*manitarian inter"ention rom a political theory !tandpoint, *!in' the recent 7(S(-7(5( led inter"ention in #ra$ a! a ca!e !t*dy( 8elyin' on three repre!entati"e thin.er!, Darrel 2oellendor , 2ichael 1al9er, and Peter Sin'er, the paper &ill try to e"al*ate the rationale! 'i"en by certain proponent! and critic! or &ar &ith the ma6or ar'*ment! o the!e political theori!t!(

One o the ma6or ar'*ment! ad"anced a'ain!t inter"ention in #ra$ in"ol"ed the pre!*mption that the !o"erei'n !tat*! o the 0*!!ein re'ime, &hich claimed to ha"e the !*pport o the #ra$i people, e ecti"ely pre"ented remo"in' that 'o"ernment by orce( 2a.in' the ca!e or #ra$i inter"ention in the /riti!h 0o*!e o :ommon!, Prime 2ini!ter Tony /lair e;pected that in the co*r!e o a !*cce!! *l inter"ention in #ra$ to remo"e Pre!ident Saddam 0*!!ein, a *t*re 7N re!ol*tion %!ho*ld protect totally the territorial inte'rity o #ra$( +nd let the oil re"en*e!<&hich the people al!ely claim &e &ant to !ei9e<be p*t in a tr*!t *nd or the #ra$i people to be admini!tered thro*'h the 7N() 3/lair !peech to /riti!h 0o*!e o :ommon!, 2arch 18, 200=4 Pre!ident >eor'e 1( /*!h, in a !peech be ore the 7N >eneral +!!embly, al!o ar'*ed that the #ra$ inter"ention &o*ld not inter ere, b*t rather ad"ance the ca*!e o pop*lar !o"erei'nty &ithin #ra$( #n ma.in' the ca!e or &ar, he claimed that %The 7nited State! ha! no $*arrel &ith the #ra$i people, they-"e !* ered too lon' in capti"ity( Liberty or the #ra$i people i! a 'reat moral ca*!e, and a !trate'ic 'oal() 3/*!h !peech to 7N >eneral +!!embly, September 12, 20024 Still, a ma6or h*manitarian 'ro*p that later came o*t in oppo!ition o the &ar, the 0*man 8i'ht! 1atch, adhered to a more !trictly !tati!t po!ition in the ab!ence o international cooperation( #n a 200? report, in act, the 'ro*p reminded reader! that %The Sec*rity :o*ncil did not appro"e o the in"a!ion, and the #ra$i 'o"ernment, it! e;i!tence on the line, "iolently oppo!ed it() 30*man 8i'ht! 1atch 1orld 8eport 200?4 +! a re!*lt, the #ra$ &ar did not meet a ba!ic re$*irement o h*manitarian inter"ention!@ the need or le'itimacy( Political theori!t! ha"e al!o 'rappled &ith the problem o re!pectin' !o"erei'nty &hile lea"in' open the po!!ibility or h*manitarian inter"ention!( Thi! problem i!

e!pecially perple;in' &ithin o*t&ardly democratic !tate!( The i!!*e here re"ol"e! aro*nd &hether one &i!he! to 'rant !o"erei'nty to the e!tabli!hed 'o"ernment o a people or only held by the people them!el"e!, &ith 'o"ernment! actin' a! a'ent! o the !o"erei'n people( Darrel 2oellendor o er! hi! an!&er to thi! ba lin' $*e!tion by e ecti"ely !*bordinatin' claim! o !o"erei'nty to notion! o 6*!tice( Thro*'h hi! !o-called co!mopolitan conception o !o"erei'nty, 2oellendor %hold! that an inter"ention into one o the domain! rea!onably claimed by a !tate i! a "iolation o !o"erei'nty i and only i the inter"ention &ill not attempt to ad"ance the ca*!e o 6*!tice either in the ba!ic !tr*ct*re o the !tate or in the international e ect! o it! dome!tic policie!() 32oellendor , 10?4 The bicondititional nat*re o the abo"e !tatement place! a hea"y b*rden on the !tate acin' inter"ention to 6*!ti y noninter"ention *nle!! it can pro"e the harm to 6*!tice and international peace( 2oellendor mi'ht *rther concede the po!!ibility that an inter"ention in #ra$ mi'ht be permi!!ible *nder hi! co!mopolitan conception o !o"erei'nty, !ince appeal! to !o"erei'nty o ten re!t on a cla!!ical analo'y to per!onal property( 0e re6ect! thi! "ie& that !o"erei'nty impo!e! an ab!ol*te ri'ht to domini*m, ar'*in' in!tead that %a ri'ht to property that incl*de! the ri'ht to do &hate"er one &ant! &ith it i! *ntenableASecond, and more to the point, property ri'ht! are 6*!ti ied to the e;tent that they protect important moral intere!t! o indi"id*al! to li"e a! they choo!e() 32oellendor , 1074 De!pite hi! empha!i! on re!pectin' *nity &ithin a nation, 2oellendor ha! little patience or ar'*ment! a'ain!t inter"ention that re!t *pon notion! o !hared comm*nity or li"e!( 0e di!a'ree! &ith *pholdin' noninter"ention e"en in ca!e! &here the ma6ority ha! "iolated the h*man ri'ht! o a minority, perhap! thro*'h racial oppre!!ion(

32oellendor , 107-1084 The 0*!!ein re'ime, tho*'h it claimed to act on behal o all #ra$i!, mi'ht there ore be !*b6ect to inter"ention on !trictly h*manitarian 'ro*nd! or it! per!ec*tion o the Shiite and 5*rdi!h 'ro*p!( Tho*'h he mi'ht deny the "ie& that the 0*!!ein re'ime repre!ent! a tr*ly !o"erei'n entity that may re$*ire other !tate! to 'ain permi!!ion in order to enter #ra$, 2oellendor &o*ld certainly cite the pro"i!ion! o +rticle 23?4 in the 7N :harter to ar'*e or the permi!!ibility o *nilateral inter"ention! &itho*t the con!ent o all the Sec*rity :o*ncil member!( Near the be'innin' o hi! boo. on co!mopolitani!m he interpret! that article %doe! not impo!e an ab!ol*te bar a'ain!t *nilateral inter"ention( #t &o*ld !eem to permit *nilateral inter"ention that doe! not "iolate territorial inte'rity and political independence o a !tate and that i! con!i!tent &ith the p*rpo!e! o the 7N() 32oellendor , ?4 Th*!, it i! entirely concei"able that 2oellendor mi'ht appro"e at lea!t o the principle o maintainin' territorial and political *nity p*t orth by Prime 2ini!ter Tony /lair &hen he !tated, +nd let the *t*re 'o"ernment o #ra$ be 'i"en the chance to be'in *nitin' the nation-! di!parate 'ro*p!, on a democratic ba!i!, re!pectin' h*man ri'ht!, a! indeed the led'lin' democracy in Northern #ra$<protected rom Saddam or 12 year! by /riti!h and +merican pilot! in the no- ly 9one<ha! done !o remar.ably( 3/lair !peech to /riti!h 0o*!e o :ommon!, 2arch 18, 200=4 +lon' &ith it! po!iti"e international e ect!, the po!!ibility o an inter"ention de!i'ned to pre"ent *rther per!ec*tion o ethnic minoritie! mi'ht incline 2oellendor to a'ree on thi! point o the limitation! o #ra$i national !o"erei'nty &ith Prime 2ini!ter /lair and Pre!ident /*!h( 2ichael 1al9er al!o allo&! or the le'itimacy o inter"ention! o a h*manitarian character, e"en in internationally reco'ni9ed nation-!tate!( Tho*'h he enco*nter!

a!!ertion! abo*t the moral imperati"e o !o"erei'nty, 1al9er belie"e! there e;i!t certain in!tance! &here prohibition! a'ain!t %bo*ndary cro!!in'! Bby orei'n armed orce! areC not ab!ol*te<in part beca*!e o the arbitrary and accidental character, in part beca*!e o the ambi'*o*! relation o the political comm*nity or comm*nitie! &ithin tho!e bo*ndarie! to the 'o"ernment that de end! them() 31al9er, 8D4 +! noted be ore, the demand! or 'reater a*tonomy amon' #ra$-! 5*rdi!h pop*lation &o*ld !*rely con!tit*te an %ambi'*o*! relation) in the ca!e o 1al9er-! apparent allo&ance or bo*ndary cro!!in'! by a orei'n po&er into the realm o another !tate( :ertainly, critic! o the #ra$ &ar mi'ht properly point o*t that 1al9er al!o note! ho& orei'n inter"ention! po!e a more di ic*lt moral problem than the pre!ence o internal re"ol*tion! do( 0ere, 1al9er di!play! a !tron' pre!*mption a'ain!t orei'n inter"ention e"en &hen %it i! a brie a air, BitC cannot !hi t the dome!tic balance o po&er in any deci!i"e &ay to&ard the orce! o reedom, &hile i it i! prolon'ed or intermittently re!*med, it &ill po!e the 'reate!t po!!ible threat to the !*cce!! o tho!e orce!() 31al9er, 874 1hile !preadin' the "al*e! o democracy to tho!e !*ppo!edly *nder the yo.e o tyranny mi'ht pro"e morally !ati! yin' to ad"ocate! o inter"ention, the co!t! a!!ociated &ith military action appear to pre"ent any real !*cce!! in the lon'term( E*rther, 1al9er-! empha!i! on the importance o !hared comm*nity a! a !tron' pre!*mption a'ain!t orei'n inter"ention &o*ld al!o tend to re!emble the noninter"ention ar'*ment! o 'ro*p! li.e 0*man 8i'ht! 1atch( Still, &hen he addre!!e! the problem o &hether *nilateral inter"ention! can e"er be le'itimate, 1al9er doe! in act accept *nilateral action!, b*t only *nder dire condition!( 1hile 1al9er mi'ht pre er the !anction o other nation! or international body

be ore commencin' an inter"ention, he doe! not re$*ire thi! a! a condition or it! moral le'itimacy( #ndeed, he !tate! that %2orality, at lea!t, i! not a bar to *nilateral action, !o lon' a! there i! no immediate alternati"e a"ailableAState! don-t lo!e their partic*lari!t character merely by actin' to'ether( # 'o"ernment! ha"e mi;ed moti"e!, !o do coalition! o 'o"ernment!() 31al9er, 1074 1hether 1al9er &o*ld, in act, a'ree &ith Pre!ident >eor'e 1( /*!h that the &orld comm*nity had e;ha*!ted all other alternati"e! at compromi!e &hen he a!!erted that %Saddam 0*!!ein ha! de ied all the!e e ort! and contin*e! to de"elop &eapon! o ma!! de!tr*ction) remain! *nclear( 3/*!h !peech to 7N >eneral +!!embly, September 12, 20024( 1hat i! clear, ho&e"er, i! that 1al9er &o*ld remain entirely open and e"en pre er in!tance! o *nilateral action rather than %to adopt that po!t*re o pa!!i"ity that mi'ht be called &aitin' or the 7N 3&aitin' or the me!!iah, &aitin' or the *ni"er!al !tate4() 31al9er, 1074 #n thi! &ay, 1al9er, on the ba!i! o hi! early &ritin'! at lea!t, &o*ld probably not ha"e re$*ired con!en!*! &ithin the Sec*rity :o*ncil a! a &hen decidin' &hether to inter"ene in #ra$( O the three political theori!t! re erred to in thi! e!!ay, Peter Sin'er perhap! come! the clo!e!t to repre!entin' the po!ition o the 0*man 8i'ht! 1atch or'ani9ation re'ardin' noninter"ention in #ra$( 1hile Sin'er doe! hold o*t or the po!!ibility o 6*!ti ied military inter"ention to halt crime! o 'enocide and other ab*!e! o h*man ri'ht!, he !ee.! an international, rather than national !ol*tion to that problem( Li.enin' 'lobal or'ani9ation! li.e the 7N to dome!tic la& en orcement, he &i!he! the reader to con!ider %the la!t line o de en!e a'ain!t 'enocide and !imilar crime! m*!t be la& en orcement, at a global level, and &here other method! o achie"in' that ail, the method o la!t re!ort &ill be military inter"ention() 3Sin'er, 1124 Li.e the other t&o

political theori!t!, Sin'er doe! not appear to be "ery impre!!ed &ith !tati!t ar'*ment! a'ain!t inter"ention, pre errin' in!tead to !ee international in!tit*tion! a! *ltimate arbiter! in ca!e! in"ol"in' the perpetration o crime! a'ain!t h*man ri'ht!( 0e pre!ent! a !tron' ca!e or international or *ni"er!al 6*ri!diction that &o*ld allo& repre!entati"e! o !tate! to pro!ec*te orei'n national! or certain atrocitie! and %crime! a'ain!t h*manity() S*pport or *nilateral inter"ention, there ore, &o*ld !eem incon!i!tent &ith hi! in!i!tence in pro!ec*tin' alle'ed perpetrator! o h*man ri'ht! "iolation! in accordance &ith international norm! and not national concern!( 2oreo"er, Sin'er-! po!ition on !o"erei'nty and hi! !*pport or international con!en!*! on matter! o criminal pro!ec*tion clo!ely ali'n! &ith the idea! o or'ani9ation! li.e 0*man 8i'ht! 1atch that # the p*rpo!e o the inter"ention &a! primarily h*manitarian, then at lea!t one other option !ho*ld ha"e been tried be ore re!ortin' to the e;treme !tep o military inter"ention<criminal pro!ec*tion( There i! no '*arantee that pro!ec*tion &o*ld ha"e &or.ed, and one mi'ht ha"e 6*!ti ied !.ippin' it had lar'e-!cale !la*'hter been *nder&ay( /*t in the ace o the #ra$i 'o"ernment-! mo!t ro*tine ab*!e!, thi! alternati"e to military action !ho*ld ha"e been tried( 30*man 8i'ht! 1atch 1orld 8eport 200?4 #n !ee.in' inter"ention be ore applyin' to ha"e 0*!!ein placed be ore the proper trib*nal, the #nternational :o*rt o F*!tice, tho!e a"orin' inter"ention *nderc*t their o&n moral le'itimacy in the eye! o m*ch o the &orld( Perhap! the main rea!on &hy the 7(S( !peci ically a"oided the ro*te o international trib*nal! dealt &ith that co*ntry-! nonin"ol"ement in the pre!ent #nternational :o*rt o F*!tice, a re *!al that Sin'er concl*de! !mac.! o moral hypocri!y( 1or!e !till, Pre!ident /*!h cited concern! o"er 7(S( !o"erei'nty a! the ma6or rea!on or hi! co*ntry-! *n&illin'ne!! to 6oin that or'ani9ation( #t i! preci!ely beca*!e o

thi! hypocri!y that only the 7N and other 'lobal or'ani9ation! po!!e!! the moral a*thority, in Sin'er-! e!timation, to %concei"ably de"elop an a*thoritati"e proced*re or !peci yin' &hen inter"ention i! 6*!ti ied() 3Sin'er, 1274 Ta.in' i!!*e &ith the other t&o theori!t!, &ho !till accept !ome need or *nilaterali!m, Sin'er denie! that thi! can really e"er &or. a! a le'itimate principle o h*manitarian inter"ention( 7!in' hi! &ritin'! a! a '*ide, one co*ld !pec*late that he &o*ld mo!t li.ely deno*nce any rationale or the #ra$ inter"ention that !o*'ht to 6*!ti y it on the need or an immediate *nilateral re!pon!e to the 0*!!ein re'ime-! !*ppo!ed po!!e!!ion o 12D! and h*man ri'ht! ab*!e!( #n a!!e!!in' the 6*!ti ication or &ar, both proponent! and opponent! o the #ra$ inter"ention ha"e relied *pon their *nder!tandin'! o the li.ely con!e$*ence! o action( Eor many proponent!, the remo"al rom po&er o a tyrant in Pre!ident Saddam 0*!!ein promi!e! the be'innin' o an optimi!tic *t*re or the people o #ra$( The !pread o democratic "al*e! in the 2iddle Ga!t re'ion &o*ld pre!*mably lead to le!! o an o"ert commitment to the de en!e o #!rael and contrib*te to lon'-term tran$*ility in the re'ion( Opponent!, by contra!t, ha"e repeatedly noted the horror! o &ar, e!pecially the po!!ibility o ci"ilian ca!*altie! and the 'eneral in!tability in #ra$ and el!e&here thro*'ho*t the re'ion( Nearly all three political theori!t! ma.e the rea!onable pro6ection or !*cce!! o an inter"ention a ma6or i!!*e in e!tabli!hin' it! o"erall le'itimacy( 2oellendor all*de! to the con!e$*ence! o "iolence &hen he ac.no&led'e! that peace may depend on the ri'ht to .ill( Eor him, %all that i! re$*ired to e!tabli!h the claim that 6*!tice !ometime! o*t&ei'h! peace i! to demon!trate that there are time! &hen it i! ri'ht to .ill i nece!!ary to pre"ent or o"ercome an in6*!tice() 32oellendor , 11=4 Pre"ention o an in6*!tice &a!

e;actly &hat Pre!ident /*!h pre!ented a! hi! main aim in 'oin' to &ar &ith #ra$( +r'*in' be ore the 7N >eneral +!!embly, the 7(S( pre!ident a!!erted that %# &e ail to act in the ace o dan'er, the people o #ra$ &ill contin*e to li"e in br*tal !*bmi!!ionA The B0*!!einC re'ime &ill remain *n!table<the re'ion &ill remain *n!table, &ith little hope or reedom, and i!olated rom the pro're!! o o*r time!() 3/*!h !peech to 7N >eneral +!!embly, September 12, 20024 Th*!, Pre!ident /*!h-! rationale or pre"enti"e action re!t! *pon the momento*! con!e$*ence! o inaction in the ace o a real in6*!tice( G"en &hile 2oellendor po!ition appear! to coincide &ith thi! o icial !tatement concernin' pre"enti"e mea!*re! a'ain!t #ra$, hi! po!ition on 6*!ti ied h*manitarian inter"ention al!o demand! a rea!onable pro!pect or !*cce!! and impro"ement in the li"e! o tho!e it !ee.! to help( On both the!e acco*nt!, it &o*ld appear that the #ra$ &ar ha! not pro"en it!el to be an acceptable orm o h*manitarian inter"ention( The 0*man 8i'ht! 1atch or'ani9ation a irmed 2oellendor -! !tance on the li.elihood o !*cce!! in their 200? 1orld 8eport, &ritin' %Hicio*! a! hi! BSaddam-!C r*le &a!, chao! or ab*!i"e ci"il &ar mi'ht &ell become e"en deadlier, and it i! too early to !ay &hether !*ch "iolence mi'ht !till emer'e in #ra$() 30*man 8i'ht! 1atch 1orld 8eport 200?4 :on irmin' the!e dire prediction!, a more recent report, prepared by the /riti!h medical 6o*rnal The Lancet, e!timated &ell o"er I0,000 #ra$i ci"ilian! had lo!t their li"e! !ince the commencement o the #ra$ &ar( + rather dramatic !tati!tic rom the report pointed o*t that %Since 2arch 200=, an additional 2(I percent o #ra$-! pop*lation ha"e died abo"e &hat &o*ld ha"e occ*rred &itho*t con lictB(C) 3%The 0*man :o!t o 1ar in #ra$,) October 11, 20064 :learly, !*ch i'*re! point to the &or!enin' rather than amelioration o the condition o the #ra$i people a ter the military inter"ention(

1hile the i!!*e o !*cce!! o inter"ention and it! impact *pon the #ra$i people o er! po&er *l e"idence a'ain!t inter"ention, the $*e!tion o &hether the leader! o the nation! that repre!ented the !o-called %coalition o the &illin') *nder!tood the pro!pect! or !*cce!! !eem! *nclear( Eor in!tance, the contro"er!y o"er the !o*rce! o the 7(S(7(5( intelli'ence re'ardin' the i!!ile-'rade %yello& ca.e) *rani*m and the 0*!!ein-! p*rported attempt! to 'ain it rom the Ni'erian! contin*e! to pro"o.e heated debate( 2oellendor &o*ld probably e;c*!e a*lty intelli'ence rom hi! moral calc*l*!, !ince leader! &ho ba!e their deci!ion! *ltimately *pon it &o*ld be '*ilty o %mi!6*d'ment o the li.elihood o !*cce!!) on the ba!i! o intelli'ence o*nd !*b!e$*ently to be o a la&ed nat*re( 32oellendor , 11D4 + more !erio*! char'e, tho*'h, pertain! to &hether the /*!h +dmini!tration and /lair >o"ernment acti"ely manip*lated the intelli'ence to achie"e the de!ired rationale or &ar( #n that ca!e, 2oellendor &o*ld almo!t certainly !ide a'ain!t an inter"ention ba!ed *pon a p*blic lie( Pro"in' the ca!e or manip*lation o intelli'ence one &ay or the other, ho&e"er, mi'ht pro"e to be rather di ic*lt at the pre!ent moment( Tryin' to a!certain 6*!t &hat tho!e po!!ible moti"e! and ho& that a ect! the !*cce!! o an inter"ention pre!ent! !omethin' o a thorny dilemma or 1al9er( Erom the on!et o hi! di!c*!!ion o h*manitarian inter"ention, he admit! that e!tabli!hin' the moral p*rity o moti"e! or inter"ention %i! e!pecially di ic*lt in a liberal democracy &here the mi;ed moti"e! o the 'o"ernment re lect the pl*rali!m o the !ocietyAOne cannot inter"ene on their behal and a'ain!t their end!( # don-t &ant to ar'*e that the p*rpo!e! o the oppre!!ed are nece!!arily 6*!t or that one need accept them in their entirety() 31al9er, 10?4 +!certainin' &hether the con!e$*ence! ollo& rom the ori'inal ob6ecti"e! o the

inter"ention th*! become! !omethin' o a '*e!!in' 'ame to tho!e &itho*t in!ider .no&led'e( Ne"erthele!!, 1al9er lar'ely a'ree! &ith ello& theori!t 2oellendor that the end! o the inter"ention m*!t be po!iti"e or tho!e aided by it( F*!tice or 1al9er, then, relie! *pon con!ideration! o pr*dence &here + !tate contemplatin' inter"ention or co*nter-inter"ention &ill or pr*dential rea!on! &ei'h the dan'er to it!el , b*t it m*!t al!o, and for moral reasons, &ei'h the dan'er! it! action! &ill impo!e on the people it i! de!i'ned to bene it and on all other people &ho may be a ected( +n inter"ention i! not 6*!t i it !*b6ect! third partie! to terrible ri!.!@ the !*b6ection cancel! the 6*!tice( 31al9er, DI4 >i"en the c*rrent co*r!e o e"ent! in #ra$, it remain! airly !a e to !ay that the $*ality o li e or ordinary #ra$i! a ter military inter"ention ha! in !ome ca!e! declined and th*! call! into $*e!tion the moral le'itimacy o inter"ention( 1hether the 7(S(, 7(5(, and other member! o the coalition o the &illin' all entered into the &ar or the %moral rea!on!) !tip*lated by 1al9er i! a $*e!tion that lac.! a de initi"e an!&er at thi! time( +ny action &hich in it! con!e$*ence! treat! h*man bein'! a! mean! to an end, in contra"ention o 5antian ethic!, !imply doe! re!pect h*man di'nity or 1al9er and 2oellendor ( Li.e the t&o political theori!t! mentioned abo"e, Sin'er *lly ac.no&led'e! the heino*! con!e$*ence! o &ar!, e"en tho!e in the name o h*manitarian concern( #ndeed, he pre!ent! to hi! reader! a "ery blea. "ie& o h*man nat*re 'enerally, &here .illin' ha! been a part o the !pecie! !ince earlie!t time!( Gn'a'ed in a balancin' act bet&een *ncontrolled "iolence and the *!e o orce to create a la!tin' peace, Sin'er contend! that e"en tho*'h internationally-!anctioned inter"ention! co*ld lead to an increa!e in &ar, thi! ri!. m*!t be &ei'hed a'ain!t the pro!pect o !*pportin' democracy and red*cin' the n*mber o 'o"ernment! that are little more than 'an'! o bri'and! pilla'in' a co*ntry o"er &hich their '*n! hold !&ayA1ar ca*!e! immen!e !* erin' and lo!! o li e, and !ho*ld al&ay! be a la!t

re!ort, entered into &hen there i! no other &ay o pre"entin' !till 'reater !* erin' and lo!! o li e, and the pro!pect! o !*cce!! are 'ood( 3Sin'er, 1=I4 Eor him, the moral commitment to other h*man bein'! mean! that there mi'ht come a point &here the *!e o orce become! nece!!ary, e"en i that *!e o orce in"ol"e! hi'h ri!.! o ci"ilian ca!*altie! and temporary in!tability( #n pre"entin' la&ed inter"ention! in practice, ho&e"er, Sin'er place! 'reat hope on achie"in' !ome mea!*re o con!en!*! &ithin the 7N Sec*rity :o*ncil( #n!tead o the i"e permanent "eto-&ieldin' nation! holdin' !&ay o"er the other temporary member! on the :o*ncil, Sin'er &o*ld try to pre"ent botched inter"ention! by increa!in' the nece!!ary ma6ority or appro"al o h*manitarian inter"ention! to at lea!t t&o-third! o all member! or a !*perma6ority( Thro*'h thi! re orm, Sin'er mi'ht pro"ide an in!tit*tional chec. to a pop*lar or 3dependin' on the ca!e, *npop*lar4 r*!h to inter"ene in a co*ntry &itho*t a 'eneral con!en!*! in a"or o the action( Thi! *rther remo"e! the do*bt o other nation! a! to the moral p*rity o the moti"e! behind an inter"ention( +ll three theori!t!, there ore, mi'ht rai!e an incred*lo*! eyebro& at the hi!torical analo'y o 1D=8-! 2*nich :on erence &ith it! policy o appea!ement and the rationale or immediate h*manitarian inter"ention in #ra$( Prime 2ini!ter /lair a!!*red !.eptic! o the #ra$ &ar that %No one here i! an appea!er( /*t the only rele"ant point o analo'y i! that &ith hi!tory, &e .no& &hat happened( 1e can loo. bac. and !ay@ there-! the time, that &a! the momentJ or e;ample, &hen :9echo!lo"a.ia &a! !&allo&ed *p by the Na9i! <that-! &hen &e !ho*ld ha"e acted() 3/lair !peech to /riti!h 0o*!e o :ommon!, 2arch 18, 200=4 1hile !*pporter! o inter"ention in #ra$ &o*ld !tre!! the enormity o the con!e$*ence! or inaction, it remain! *nclear &hether they contemplated the pro!pect o #ra$i re!i!tance or e"en !imply apathy to the attempt to liberate tho!e at the hand! o

the 0*!!ein re'ime( 2ore li.ely, the!e theori!t! &o*ld tend to conc*r &ith the !entiment! o or'ani9ation! li.e the 0*man 8i'ht! 1atch, &hich !a& inter"ention in #ra$ a! 6*!ti iable %not only to !top on'oin' !la*'hter b*t al!o to pre"ent *t*re !la*'hter, b*t the *t*re !la*'hter m*!t be imminent() 30*man 8i'ht! 1atch 1orld 8eport 200?4 #n order to pro"e the need or h*manitarian inter"ention, &hether o a *nilateral or international character, one &o*ld ha"e to demon!trate the harm bein' done to ci"ilian! either in the pre!ent or in the immediate *t*re( One $*e!tion not addre!!ed by the theori!t! and apparently a!!*med by policyma.er! re'ardin' #ra$ i! &hether an inter"ention &o*ld lead to po!iti"e demon!tration! o !*pport by ci"ilian!( G"en &hile ima'e! o #ra$i! celebratin' the all o the 0*!!ein re'ime illed ma!! media report! o the initial !ta'e! o the inter"ention, the con!e$*ence! o mo*ntin' ca!*altie! and a ne& #ra$i 'o"ernment illed &ith !ectarian di"i!ion!, pre!ent at be!t a mi;ed e"al*ation or the !*cce!! o the #ra$ inter"ention and at &or!t a ri!. o labelin' it an o*tri'ht ail*re( 1hile the &ord! o the three political theori!t! o er ca*tionary ad"ice to tho!e leader! *r'in' *t*re inter"ention!, the problem o con rontin' man-! inh*manity to&ard hi! ello& man lea"e! little do*bt o the contin*ance o the debate o"er &hat con!tit*te! a proper h*manitarian inter"ention(