Name _________________________
Just War Debates
Overview
You and a partner will be assigned to debate one side of a contemporary or historical conflict based on
Just War principles. Your task is to do research and try to find the best arguments and evidence for
explaining why the conflict you have been assigned either meets or does not meet Just War criteria. We
will have 2-3 days to research, and then we will begin the debates.
Debate Format
The debate format will be as follows.
Example Statement: The United States War vs. Iraq is a Just War
Yes Side Opening Statement 1 minute allowed
No Side Opening Statement 1 minute allowed
Yes Side Presentation of Case 2 minutes
No Side Presentation of Case 2 minutes
Yes Side Rebuttal 2 minutes
No Side Rebuttal 2 minutes
Yes Side Closing Statement 1 minute
No Side Closing Statement 1 minute
Total = 15 minutes
Step 1--Research (Monday and Tuesday)
Begin to research the conflict to which you have been assigned. Below are several websites to help you
in your research. As you do the research, you may use the following interactive organizer to help keep
track of your research/arguments:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/
Your goal should be twofold: (1) identify which Just War principles are best or weakest supported and
structure your debate around these particular principles; (2) identify what you think the other side will
argue and find arguments to rebut what you think they will say. Thus each team will need to examine
both sides of the debate, even though they are only arguing one side.
Step 2—Debates (Thursday, Friday and possibly Tuesday)
Just War Debates Research
The following are websites that can help you to begin research into your debate position
Iraq War
Information from ProCon.org on all aspects of U.S. War in Iraq
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCoQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusiraq.pro
con.org%2F&ei=6lvRTdPnEKbliAK4mIyYBg&usg=AFQjCNEdDglYLUWA4zDsosed2_LvpcJdzA
Afghanistan War (Operation Enduring Freedom)
President Obama’s Nobel Prize Speech justifying War in Afghanistan
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121001139_3.html?sid=ST2009121000940
Timeline for War in Afghanistan
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/etc/cron.html?utm_campaign=videoplayer&
utm_medium=fullplayer&utm_source=relatedlink
More background on war in Afghanistan
http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/us-war-afghanistan/p20018
NATO Involvement in Libya (Operation Odyssey Dawn)
President Obama’s Speech on Decision to intervene in Libya
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134935452/obamas-speech-on-libya-a-responsibility-to-act
News article on launching of Libyan intervention
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/19/operation-odyssey-dawn-tomahawks-libya
Discussion of Just War principles as related to Libya
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/
Iran (hypothetical)
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iran/nuclear_program/in
dex.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/opinion/02iht-edaslan.html?ref=nuclearprogram
(possible consequences of a US strike on Iran)
Assignments
War in Afghanistan 1
War is just: Dana and Shane War is unjust: Abby and Koraima
War in Afghanistan 2
War is just: Hadleigh and Sheen War is unjust: Leslie and Dong
War in Iraq 1
War is just: Dana and Liz War is unjust: Carolyn and David I.
War in Iraq 2
War is just: Teja and Momin War is unjust: Emma and Ershad
Intervention in Libya 1
War is just: Jamie and Melanie War is unjust: Margo and Evan P
Intervention in Libya 2
War is just: Hannah and Valerie War is unjust: Danielle and Michala
Hypothetical War in Iran 1
War would be just: Nick and Emily War would be unjust: David S and Nicole
War would be just: Evan T War would be unjust: Daniel