The Foreign Service Journal, November 2010

Iraq: The Moral Reckoning — Applying Just War Theory to the 2003 War Decision Craig M. White, Lexington Books, 2010, $26.95, paperback, 290 pages. In Iraq: The Moral Reckoning , author Craig White “not only sets a new standard for evaluating the 2003 Iraq War, but also shows how present and future wars can be better evaluated in moral and practical terms.” The book details the stipulations of “just war” theory and systematically analyzes whether or not each criterion was met by the Bush administration in 2003. White’s conclusion— that the decision met only one of six “just war” criteria — is supported by his meticu- lous research. The book begins with an overview of the- ories on warfare, fromAristotle to Thomas Aquinas, and presents the qualifications of a just war: sovereign au- thority, just cause, right intention, proportionality of ends, last resort and reasonable chance of success. In subsequent chapters, White explores speeches, news articles, editorials and other sources of publically avail- able information about the Iraq war decision. White anticipates counterarguments and rebuffs them; his book successfully juggles the complex com- ponents of a war decision. Whether they agree with White’s argument, readers will appreciate this look at the problems confronting a government as it prepares for war. Craig M. White joined the Foreign Service in 1991, after living in the Middle East for nearly 10 years. He wrote Iraq: The Moral Reckoning in his free time as a citizen, not as an official, believing that “if any theory is to be useful, it must be applied to the dense texture of the existing world.” He currently serves as the public affairs officer in Port Louis, Mauritius. Humanitarians in Hostile Territory: Expeditionary Diplomacy & Aid Outside the Green Zone Peter W. Van Ardsdale and Derrin R. Smith, Left Coast Press, 2010, $34.95, paperback, 352 pages. Humanitarians in Hostile Ter- ritory is Peter Van Arsdale and Derrin Smith’s guide to the moral and practical aspects of helping civilians out- side the safety of the U.S.-secured “green zones.” Within a certain stretch of territory governments and aid organizations establish a presence and provide hu- manitarian assistance and security to the local popula- tion. But what about those civilians living far from secured areas and relief operations? This book is de- signed to help governments and nongovernmental or- ganizations navigate this unfamiliar terrain. The authors divide the book into three parts, cover- ing the ethos of humanitarian efforts, operational re- quirements and the lessons learned from previous humanitarian interventions. Especially important is the delicate subject of civilian-military relations. Van Ars- dale and Smith supply ample guidelines and recom- mendations for how NGOs and governments should play their respective roles and work together toward a common goal. By and large, this is a detailed guide to cutting-edge humanitarian work based on years of experience and case studies, especially the U.S. experience in Iraq, and is recommended reading for Foreign Service person- nel and NGOs operating in “hostile territory.” Derrin Smith is a political officer in Beirut, special- izing in terrorism finance and sanctions, human traf- ficking, Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. Peter Van Arsdale is a senior lecturer at the Josef Kor- bel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, as well as director of African initiatives. He has conducted fieldwork in Romania, Bosnia, Indonesia and Ethiopia, among other places, and is the author of Forced to Flee: Human Rights and Human Wrongs in Refugee Homelands (Lexington Books, 2006). The Politico-Military Function and the Department of State: The Future of Foreign Policy Advisers (POLADS) in the 21st Century David T. Jones, Una Chapman Cox Foundation, 2010, paperback, 124 pages. Writing on a special class of Foreign Service officers known as POLADS (foreign policy advisers to military commanders), David Jones examines the cooperation between the State and De- fense Departments integrating the expertise of FSOs with on-the-ground military officials. Demand for qual- ified and knowledgeable diplomatic advisers has been on the rise ever since 9/11, and Jones is concerned with mapping out how this expansion of the POLAD pro- gram should proceed. 32 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 0