Wilfred Owen Today military and other government lawyers play a central role , as the recent controversy over the legal authorization of the drone strike on Anwar al-Awlaki attests . : WWI launched debate : can laws of war impose limits how war carried out ? After WWI , aim was to end war , but in the 20th century , aim shifted to making it more 'humane , ' he says . Moyn : Focus now not to end nations ' aggression , but to stop atrocity . Germany a low point . Since one , our wars much cleaner , lawful ; but Congress idea of 'war to end wars ' failed , he says .
Wilfred Owen : WWI launched debate : can laws of war impose limits how war carried out ? After WWI , aim was to end war , but in the 20th century , aim shifted to making it more 'humane , ' he says . Moyn : Focus now not to end nations ' aggression , but to stop atrocity . Germany a low point . Since one , our wars much cleaner , lawful ; but Congress idea of 'war to end wars ' failed , he says .