Cowan works to clear landmines, but accepts the US giving mines to Ukraine

Analyzing the article

The London Standard

appeal to authority

Our Analysis: 1 Fallacy

In Ukraine, it's not just the frontline that's a minefield. The decision of the United States to offer landmines to Ukraine, a signatory of the landmine ban treaty, creates as much of a diplomatic minefield as a military one... The possibility exists that unless Ukraine's defences can be strengthened, the very survival of the country may be at stake. In giving these landmines, the United States is therefore choosing the lesser of two evils.

James Cowan attempts to justify the use of non-persistent landmines by appealing to the urgency of Ukraine's situation and the need to defend against Russian aggression, while downplaying the potential risks and ethical concerns associated with landmines. His argument ultimately rests upon his interpretation of "the laws of war" and how these landmines fit into that framework. His interpretation is subject to further debate, but aside from one appeal to authority (his own), Cowan does not commit any clear logical fallacies in his argument. While he effectively uses his expertise to explain the complexities of the situation, including the principles of warfare and international law, Cowan's argument would be stronger with more exploration of alternative defensive strategies.

1. appeal to authority • Cowan attempts to lend credence to his argument by appealing to his position as CEO of a respected organization, implying that his opinion is more valid due to his role.

As the CEO of HALO, you might expect me to come out and categorically condemn the US decision to give anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. You may be surprised to read that I'm not going to do that.

By reminding the reader that he himself leads an organization committed to clearing landmines, Cowan aims to convince the audience to accept his opinion about giving landmines to Ukraine. However, his arguments must be judged on their merits, and not on the basis of Cowan's authoritative position.

References

James Cowan (2024, Nov 21). Don't condemn the US decision to give anti-personnel mines to Ukraine.
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/landmines-ukraine-russia-war-us-halo-trust-b1195403.html

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Disclaimer

Note that there being one or more apparent fallacies in the arguments presented in this article does not mean that every argument the arguer made was fallacious, nor does it mean there are not other arguments in existence for the same or similar position that are logically valid. Also note that checking for fallacies is not the same as verification of the premises the arguer starts from, such as facts that the arguer asserts or principles that the arguer assumes as the foundation for constructing arguments. For more about this, see our 'What is Fallacy Checking?'

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