Morality in wars, battles and conflicts can be seen as a code that is followed by nations or combatants to manage their conduct in situations. Most people are aware and acknowledge a strong presumption against the moral acceptance of war, but nevertheless believe that in some circumstances this presumption is over-ridden by other morally important considerations. Morality is seen in war by examining the just war theory, ‘The just war theory represents perhaps the most venerable and coherent attempt to develop a comprehensive set of moral constraints on the use of armed forces using ethical criteria to asses both decision to go to war (jus ad bellum) and the methods to achieve its aim (jus in bello)’#. The ethical criteria may vary in peoples opinions depending on their religion or ethical background as they have contributed to moral values, rules and understandings.
When a state makes the decision to go to war, in order for it to be morally justifiable it must meet all of the requirements set down under jus ad bellum. There must be a ‘just cause’ for example the reason for going to war must be just and can not simply be to punish someone or recapture a stolen article, this theory is in keeping with the nations basic human rights. The war must be declared by a ‘legitimate authority’ and can not simply be made by any member of the state. There must be a ‘right intention’ for example correcting a wrong made by the other nation and not simply to allow gain or maintain their economy. The attacking state must have a ‘probability of success’ so that weapons are not used wastefully. War is only to be used as a ‘last resort’, all other possibilities must have been attempted before war is declared. The outcome of the war must be ‘proportionate’ to the damage that will be cause during the conflict.
In the Yugoslavia in 1999 the above criteria were considered in decision to go to war. There was a ‘just cause’ as ‘NATO perceived the conditions in Kosovo as...