What is the underlying duty of the government right now, whatever we do about war with Iraq?
I believe — and I think the tradition, the moral philosophy, will back me up on this point — that the imperative to seek and promote peace, both domestically and internationally, is one of the most important imperatives under which any government must operate. And the question for government is always how best to do that. I have argued, and I deeply believe, that in the international arena the government of the United States, incomparably the most powerful country in the world, should throw its weight on the side of creating the most lawlike system of international affairs that is compatible with the fact that we are dealing with nearly 200 sovereign nations, not one, united political entity. Q: What are the major moral arguments against attacking Iraq? A: Going to war against Iraq is inconsistent with the doctrine of just war as I understand it. It is in violation of legal obligations to which we have consented, and it also violates the statesman’s prime duty to behave cautiously an
