Georgetown University LogoGeorgetown University Library LogoDigitalGeorgetown Home
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   DigitalGeorgetown Home
    • Georgetown University Institutional Repository
    • School of Continuing Studies
    • Liberal Studies
    • Liberal Studies Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   DigitalGeorgetown Home
    • Georgetown University Institutional Repository
    • School of Continuing Studies
    • Liberal Studies
    • Liberal Studies Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The morality of a U.S. preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program : a just war analysis

    Cover for The morality of a U.S. preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program : a just war
      analysis
    View/Open
    View/Open: crumbaughJennifer.pdf (331kB) Bookview

    Creator
    Crumbaugh, Jennifer Anne.
    Description
    Thesis (M.A.L.S.)--Georgetown University, 2008.; Includes bibliographical references. The opacity of Iran's nuclear program has kept the Bush Administration on alert, afraid of facing the reality of a nuclear-armed Iran. In the wake of 9-11 the Bush Administration created a revised national security strategy that clearly placed nuclear proliferation as a vital threat to national security and added preemption as a policy for dealing with such threats. The United States cannot afford to allow the number one state sponsor of terrorism to be armed with a nuclear weapon.; This thesis examines applies the principles of the just war theory in an attempt to discern whether or not the United States would be morally justified in preemptively striking Iran's nuclear program. The procedure used to examine this moral question included an in-depth application of the six principles of jus ad bellum to the case study of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. These jus jus ad bellum principles were just cause, right intention, proportionality, proper authority, likelihood of success, and last resort. Each just war criterion was dealt with separately to highlight the complexities that U.S. policymakers would face and what conditions would and would not be morally justifiable.; This case study revealed the just war theory is beginning to change in light of the post-9-11 world and in the aftermath of United States' first test of preemption, the 2003 invasion of Iraq. While the United States may be militarily capable in striking Iranian nuclear facilities, the quality and value of vital intelligence will remain the greatest challenge to success. The United States would be wise to bolster its diplomatic efforts with Iran in order to provide Iran with a credible threat, most likely through stronger sanctions and further isolation, in order to properly gauge when the U.S. would be left with no other option than a military strike. War most certainly should not be the United States' first policy reflex, but should be left on the table as an option to counter the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program.
    Permanent Link
    http://hdl.handle.net/10822/553307
    Date Published
    2008
    Subject
    Political Science, International Law and Relations
    Type
    thesis
    Publisher
    Georgetown University
    Collections
    • Liberal Studies Theses and Dissertations
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Cover for The role of uranium enrichment in nuclear proliferation and potential implications for
      Iran's nuclear program

      The role of uranium enrichment in nuclear proliferation and potential implications for Iran's nuclear program 

      Katukhov, Alexey V. (Georgetown University, 2010)
    Related Items in Google Scholar

    Georgetown University Seal
    ©2009 - 2022 Georgetown University Library
    37th & O Streets NW
    Washington DC 20057-1174
    202.687.7385
    digitalscholarship@georgetown.edu
    Accessibility
     

     

    Browse

    All of DigitalGeorgetownCommunities & CollectionsCreatorsTitlesBy Creation DateThis CollectionCreatorsTitlesBy Creation Date

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Georgetown University Seal
    ©2009 - 2022 Georgetown University Library
    37th & O Streets NW
    Washington DC 20057-1174
    202.687.7385
    digitalscholarship@georgetown.edu
    Accessibility