Which of our wars were justified?

[Lionel Mandrake]

In other words, in which of our many wars was our participation justified? (where "our" means involving the USA).

A strict pacifist would answer "none", but most of us wouldn't agree. Sometimes, the Friends slogan notwithstanding, war IS the answer. I would list the following as justified: the Revolutionary War (and it's continuation, the War of 1812, but not our invasion of Canada), the Civil War (on the Union side), World War 2, Operation Desert Shield, and our seemingly endless war against al-Qaeda.

I'm not so sure about World War 1, the Korean War, and Operation Desert Storm (at least Bush the Elder had the good sense to stop short of Baghdad).

I view the following as completely unjustified: the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, the Vietnam War, and the Second Gulf War (which was the epitome of Bush the Younger's immorality and stupidity).

Any comments?

[LittleBlue]

1. We were justified in WW1 and Korea. The telegram from Germany to Mexico is a valid casus belli

Our tactics in Europe were terrible, though. Sending waves of men at machine guns, when the Brits and French already showed it didn't work, was utter madness and borderline criminal incompetence. The Korean War is, I believe, justified in hindsight. Every South Korean is thankful they didn't end up on the other side. The first Gulf War is a tricky one, there are strong arguments for and against.

[Lionel Mandrake]

5. Trench warfare in WW1 was bad all around.

The French and Germans took turns going "over the top", i.e., climbing up out of the trenches and facing enemy machine guns. You'd think we would profit from their mistakes, but no, we used the same tactics late in the war. The number of American casualties was small compared to those of the other nations only because we weren't in the war very long.

Other horrors of the time include the military use of poison gas (first used by the German army, with a little help from Fritz Haber) and the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed between 50 and 100 million people.

Our inability to learn from others' mistakes was not limited to WW1. In Vietnam, for example, we didn't learn from the French experience at Dien Bien Phu, but made our own mistakes at Khe Sanh and were saved from complete destruction, such as the French had suffered, only by massive bombing and artillery bombardment. Eventually we did pull out, first from Khe Sanh, and later from all of Vietnam.

[liberal N proud]

2. I would go with WW1 & WW2

The revolution and Civil wars, past that, they were all failures.

[yeoman6987]

3. WW II - most important and necessary. The rest...meh.

[former9thward]

4. The first Gulf War was carrying out a U.N. resolution that we had sponsored.

And Bush I stopped where the U.N. resolution said to stop. WW I was not justified -- especially how it was conducted with both sides using their men as cannon fodder.

[Nye Bevan]

6. If the Revolutionary War had never been fought, the US would eventually have won independence anyway

and many casualties would have been avoided. Of course it would have become a different country, probably resembling Canada more than today's USA.

[Lionel Mandrake]

7. Maybe so.

And it would taken far less than four score and seven more years to abolish slavery here. In fact, slavery was abolished throughout the BE in 1834.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I think you've nailed it as to which were justified, and which were not.

[Lionel Mandrake]

9. My dear CP,

Thank you for the rec & the vote of confidence.

[stevenleser]

10. My list would closely mirror yours although I would include Desert Storm as justified.

[JonLP24]

11. Definitely not Desert Storm

Last edited Tue May 19, 2015, 07:25 PM - Edit history (1)

Kuwait was the last country of the Arabian Peninsula to not let the US in until 1987 when they wanted US flag on their ships so it was really an opportunity for them to become our friend but I don't feel our loyalty to those countries is justified either plus the diplomat gave Saddam confusing information. Don't forget the "Highway of Death"

I'd recommend this documentary on Information War -- to get to Desert Storm you'd have to get past the Vietnam war part but the whole thing is Must See.

I also really hate the way the UN Security Council is set up so I don't feel they are justified either. Overall, I support talking 'til your blue in the face though I'd support taking out the "House of Saud" a long time ago.

[Lionel Mandrake]

12. The video is definitely worth watching,

if for no other reason because it demonstrates that the the big TV networks in the USA seldom report what is really happening. The PBS Newshour is better; they often rely on ITN (British) reporters to show what is happening overseas. Worst of all, of course, is Faux News.