Modern Warfare Flashcards
What are the three weapons of mass destruction?
Nuclear weapons-these weapons cause immediate destruction of all life and structures within their range.
Biological weapons-this weaponry uses live disease-causing bacterium or viruses to bring about the death or serious illness of people.
Chemical weapons-this weaponry uses non-living toxins to cause death,incapacity or illness in people.
Nuclear deterrence vs nuclear disarmament.
Points for nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons are a deterrence.
• People feel safer if their country has
nuclear weapons.
• It is immoral for a country not to
protect their citizens by whatever
means possible.
• There has been no use of nuclear
weapons since 1945.
• If a country can afford it they should
protect their citizens by having nuclear weapons.
Points against nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons are an unreliable way for the state to protect itself. E.g. GB’s nuclear weapons did not stop Argentina attacking the Falklands.
• Nuclear weapons lead people to living in fear. The Cold War was a time of heightened tension.
• Nuclear weapons are immoral, no religion supports their existence.
• Proliferation means there is more chance of nuclear war.
• Nuclear weapons cost too much money, that could be spent on healthcare, education etc.
Why would a country use mass destruction weapons?
For mass terror and destruction.
Destroy crops,contaminate water,spread diseases to harm humans and animals.
Mass casualties.
Damage an enemy with limited risks to the country using chemicals.
Church teaching on nuclear deterrence
All churches against it.
Catholic Church- too much money spent on nuclear weapons rather than the actual problems causing the wars.
United Methodist church- nuclear weapons don’t receive the church’s blessing. Strong no.
Anglican Church- against it strongly. People should unite to stop nuclear weapons from being used.
American Baptist church- all nations should unite to stop nuclear weapons.
What are the main casualties of war?
Military personnel.
Civilians.
Child soldiers.
Asylum seekers and refugees.
Physiological effects.
War is a waste of money and resources
Points for
Wars cause millions of innocent lives to be lost and human suffering on a huge scale and so cannot be justified.
There’s also damage to buildings and resources,loss of essential services and damage to the environment.
More public money could be spent on education and healthcare than supporting the military and buying weapons.
War is a waste of money and resources
Points against
There are always examples in the news of violent and aggressive attacks by one country on another; the only way to stop this is by armed conflict.
Pacifist methods- peaceful demonstrations,strikes,sanctions are not immediately effective so wars are needed.
Sometimes dictators need to be challenged, declaring war has been shown to be effective against Hitler or Saddam Hussein.
Arguments for pacifism
Pacifism upholds the sanctity of human life and rejects violence as a means of resolving conflicts.
Pacifism promotes non-violent solutions and alternatives to war, which can prevent the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of armed conflict.
Pacifism is consistent with the ideals of justice, order, and human rights, unlike the use of violence even for ostensibly good ends.
Successful historical examples of non-violent resistance, such as the movements led by Gandhi and King, demonstrate the power of pacifism.
Pacifism encourages open dialogue, learning, and consideration of opposing views, rather than escalating conflicts.
“All who take the sword will die by the sword.”
Arguments against pacifism
Pacifism fails to resist aggression and tyranny, allowing oppressors to subjugate the innocent.
Pacifism is an unrealistic and overly optimistic view of human nature and the realities of the world, where force is sometimes necessary to defend against brutality.
Pacifism as a national policy is not viable, as it leaves a country vulnerable to conquest by non-pacifist adversaries.
Pacifism can be used as a cover for cowardice and shirking civic responsibilities to defend one’s nation.
Pacifism does not account for the possibility of “just wars” sanctioned by religions or required to protect the innocent.
