Among most analysts concerned with the morality of warfare, the rule of proportionality— that the seriousness of the damages inflicted must not exceed the seriousness of the injury to be prevented by the war—holds a central place. That rule was prominent in several recent contributions to this magazine, including ones by me and by Paul Ramsey (see the issues of April and November, 1972). In any application of the rule one must take into account damages and benefits to all participants and observers: "our" side, "their" side, those caught in between and the presumed beneficiaries elsewhere.