Justice Robert H. JacksonJustice Robert H. Jackson, (1892-1954), U. S. Supreme Court Justice

Justice Robert H. Jackson Quote

“We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it...No grievances or policies will justify resort to aggressive war. It is utterly renounced and condemned as an instrument of policy.”

Justice Robert H. JacksonJustice Robert H. Jackson
~ Justice Robert H. Jackson

U.S. Supreme Court, 08 Dec 1945, and reprinted in Precision-Guided Coverage, Molly Ivins, May 2003

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

Amerika's current instrument of policy is to justify its resorting to aggressive wars all over the planet. hhhm, how times have changed.

J Carlton, Calgary

Clearly the statement is accurate. Aggression towards sovereign nations includes CIA (and other) manipulation of the political and economic affairs of sovereign nations in the name of "US Interests". These clandestine activities are criminal in nature and fly in the face of Constitutional American values. And when the citizens of those nations begin to understand what has been done to them they become angry and retaliate. The CIA's term for this is "Blowback". The Government labels it as Terrorism. The result is more "security" for you and me... Now, get in line for your pat down and cavity search...in the land of the Free...

dick, fort worth

How dismayed and sickened he would be if he could see what has happened since.

E Archer, NYC

When will enough Americans wake up to the fascist welfare-warfare state that is being foisted upon us? The world did not want to be ruled by the British or the Germans, what makes us think it wants to be ruled by Americans? Few realize that the US has been bombing Middle Eastern countries for over 20 years without any Congressional declaration of war. If the invasion of Iraq wasn't war, then what was it? And why are conservatives calling the US military actions in Afghanistan the 'Long War'? What are we actually doing there? If the US is now at perpetual war with Islam, then indeed America has lost its way and lost its control of its government waging war in its name.

jim k, Austin, Tx

Governments always have a war going or at least keep the people scared that one is coming soon. We have wars all over the place, the war on drugs, cancer, obesity, you name it. Gotta keep that word WAR on every bodies mind all the time.It's what governments do.

Matthew, LA

How the last sentence actually ends, "...condemned as an instrument of policy, unless it's 'my' country doing it."

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