Volume XXIII – Number 2
Jack E. Barber
Abstract:
Often in international conflicts involving American soldiers, the United States has a tendency to believe that its actions are inherently good and morally just, even when they come at the price of others’ lives. This article criticizes this belief by examining the Vincennes incident, where on July 3rd, 1988 the United States Naval ship the USS Vincennes under the command of Captain William Rogers shot down Iran Airbus Flight 655. This aircraft was a commercial passenger plane flying from Tehran to Dubai over the Persian Gulf; however, as the plane failed to identify itself to the US Naval ships on the water, it was assumed to be a threat by the USS Vincennes. The decision to shoot down Iran Airbus Flight 655 resulted in the loss of 290 innocent civilian lives. However, many believe that the United States Navy and Captain William Rogers acted appropriately due to the hostile environment that had been developing in the Persian Gulf prior to the incident and because the USS Vincennes was under attack on the water by Iranian gunboats at the time of the decision to down Flight 655. After a thorough analysis of international law regarding the circumstances that warrant the use of force against non-combatants, this article finds that the decision to shoot down Flight 655 was a tragic mistake that overstepped international standards for the use of force.
Keywords: USS Vincennes, Persian Gulf, Flight 655, international law, nonbelligerent, use of force, legality, military, US Navy
