If a future president—using a rationale similar to that used by the Obama administration—were to initiate targeted or signature drone attacks as part of a counter-terrorism program, would that decision be justified?
Alexander Moseley explains the principles of “Just War Theory,” which “is concerned with ethically justifying war and the forms that warfare may or may not take” (5). Another framework for thinking about war is presented by John Dewey, who argues that “antecedent and abstract principles cannot be assigned to justify the use of force” (13) and instead “The criterion of value lies in the relative efficiency and economy of the expenditure of force as a means to an end” (13). President Barack Obama, in his May 23, 2013 speech to the National Defense University, explained the ethical and practical reasons for his administration’s use of drones to conduct “targeted action against al Qaeda and its associated forces” (1). However, Harry van der Linden, using principles of just war theory, argues that the use of drones for targeted attacks cannot be justified. Question:
Hypothetically, if a future president—using a rationale similar to that used by the Obama administration—were to initiate targeted or signature drone attacks as part of a counter-terrorism program, would that decision be justified? Why or why not?
Instructions: This is a question about a hypothetical situation, and you may use Obama’s speech as an example of a justification that could be offered by a future president. You may consider whether such attacks would be ethically justified (according to just war theory), and whether they would be an efficient and economical means to an end (according to John Dewey’s pragmatism argument). You may agree and/or disagree with Obama’s and van der Linden’s arguments, with reasons. You must use materials from all four of the readings in this reading set, by quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing them to assist you in explaining and supporting your argument. In addition, define and employ key terms that seem to be central to the arguments of your sources and, therefore, to your argument as well. Among these key terms are: Ethics; just cause; last resort; proper authority; right intention; chance of success/reasonable success; proportional; power/energy; coercive force; violence.
You must attribute to its source any material that you summarize, quote, or paraphrase. Base your essay on the information contained in the set of readings, not on your own life events, on readings from outside the reading set, or on courses you have taken. Your ideas should be the most important feature of your essay, but they should be ideas that develop from your work with the readings in this reading set. Plagiarism in a portfolio, whether it is in the new essay or in one of the supporting essays, will be treated in the manner as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, which can be downloaded in PDF form at: https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/policies/community/code.
The consequences of violating these policies are serious and may include suspension or expulsion.
March 2018 WPE Portfolio Reading Set Table of Contents
University of Massachusetts at Boston Colleges of Education and Human Development, Honors, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Health Sciences, Public and Community Service, Science and Mathematics, and the School for the Environment
March 2018 Writing Proficiency Evaluation (WPE): Portfolio
Portfolio Reading Set: The Ethics of Drone Warfare
The portfolio is due on Friday, March 16, no later than 4:00PM
In the Writing Proficiency Office, CC-1-1300
Table of Contents 1. Obama, Barack. “Remarks by the President at the National Defense University.” The White House, The United States Government, 23 May 2013, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/thepress-office/2013/05/23/remarks-president-national-defense-university.
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