Full Idea
If most unjust combatants are morally innocent because they are excused, and if it is wrong to intentionally kill morally innocent people, then a contingent form of pacificism may be inescapable.
Gist of Idea
If the unjust combatants are morally excused they are innocent, so how can they be killed?
Source
Jeff McMahan (Killing in War [2009], 3.3.1)
Book Reference
McMahan,Jeff: 'Killing in War' [OUP 2009], p.124
A Reaction
A very nice argument against the moral equality of combatants. If I think we are the good guys, and the opposing troops are no morally different from us, how can I possibly kill them?