CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY DAREN BOWYER JUST WAR DOCTRINE

undermined and legitimacy questioned, then ‘soft power’ is reduced, which in the
complex modern world is a critical adjunct to traditional hard power.
Nationally, improper conduct in war impacts on a country’s pride and sense of self
worth but also undermines the reputation and standing of its armed forces. In the case
of the Vietnam War, lack of support for the war, as well as concern over its proper
conduct, undermined public trust in the US Army, leading to a crisis in morale from
which, arguably, it did not fully recover until the 1991 Gulf War. Professional armed
services thrive on their reputation and that reputation is tarnished by misconduct;
soldiers feel this keenly and morale may suffer. Beyond this, such conduct and the
damage it does to reputation can have a negative impact on recruiting.
Most importantly there are the men and women immediately affected – those of the
armed forces who must execute their nation’s policy. We must consider the impact on
these individuals of unjust – or dishonourable – conduct in war. In Chapter 2 (see
p145), the argument was made that we are all diminished as human beings if we engage
in activity that is ‘inhuman’. Being an effective killing machine is not enough; it is not
an end in itself. There is a price to pay for inhumane behaviour – a loss of individual
and corporate sense of humanity and worth.
This view is echoed in both US FM 1 and in Canada’s Duty with Honour: First, from
FM1:
and
1-52. The moral dimension of the profession of arms lies in the fact that war is
ultimately fought for ideas. Ideas motivate combatants. It is only in the moral
dimension —when opponents understand and believe that they are defeated—
that victory is complete. While the use of force is sometimes necessary for the
common good, the authority to wield it carries a moral responsibility of the
greatest magnitude. The morality of applying force in a just cause derives from
ancient ethical and religious standards. The moral and ethical tenets of the
Constitution and the Declaration of Independence form the basis of the
military’s professional ideals. The Law of Land Warfare, Uniform Code of
Military Justice, and Code of Conduct give structure to its moral standards. 102
(Original emphasis).
1-61. The Army Values are the basic building blocks of a Soldier’s character.
They help Soldiers judge what is right or wrong in any situation. The Army
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