Terror and Reprisal - An Ethical Perspective

摘要

The problem is posed as to how, from an ethical perspective, an established military force such as the United States Army, should respond to the challenge of terrorism. A basic ethical position is asserted which holds that the fact that an individual is a person imposes normative limits on what others can do to him, and what he can do to others. Terrorism is analyzed with respect to this ethical position, and is found to be an unacceptable form of human conduct. The legal and moral limitations which the military operates under are discussed, and specific recommendations are made concerning acceptable actions which can be taken by established military forces as they attempt to counter terrorism. The conclusion is that acceptable military actions with respect to terrorism, and in general, involve treating people as persons rather than objects, and strict avoidance of deliberate or even reckless attack on noncombatants.