Key Iran General Soleimani killed in Iraq: reports - BBC

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Excuse me, an American Contractor was killed, troops were hurt. That sounds quite a bit beyond “planning”
What remains true is that there were plenty of other options rather than murderous act of war.
Avoiding war

2307
The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war.105

[2308] All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.

However, "as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.

2309
The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time :
  • the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
  • all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective ;
  • there must be serious prospects of success;
  • the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.
The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.
The US could have pulled out of Iraq, and we could have utilized diplomacy. Iraq is not our nation, we are not responsible for the common good there. Their government is responsible for their common good.
 
What a tough balancing act he does

He’s starting WW3 over Iran because they are Russia allies

BUT​

He’s also in Putin’s pocket, doing what he wants.
 
Like Rubio said, we were probably headed towards larger confrontation:


What’s done is done. I might not have gone after Soleimani if I were president but undoubtedly, he’s a very dangerous character who has caused a whole lot of damage in that region. I mean, just look at that war in Syria for that matter? So many have died and a lot of people say, ISIS isn’t the main culprit for killing over there. Maybe they (ISIS) are or were just the most sadistic and tell everyone.

Too, Trump inherited this, Obama inherited the wars, sure, this first was instigated under Bush… but if you read up on Saddam, he did do a lot of bad and threatened neighbors. He might have even committed genocide against the Kurds, that is he and his regime.
 
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Not exactly direct aggression against a country though.
Yes, it is. Our embassies are extensions of our country.
What’s to stop multiple skyscraper-sized embassies being built, all claiming protection as though it were their own country?
The host country determines what they will allow.
The “attack” was not a military attack. It was a demonstration.
Right. Just like the attack on the embassy in Benghazi was caused by an offensive movie.

Trump’s act was immoral and did not comply with just war theory.
That you define it as an act of war doesn’t make it one, and if it did you give too little significance to this:

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

Beyond that is the right of self defense.

1909 Finally, the common good requires peace, that is, the stability and security of a just order. It presupposes that authority should ensure by morally acceptable means the security of society and its members. It is the basis of the right to legitimate personal and collective defence.
 
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The 58 second video at this link is worth a look/listen. It is important to take a look at every response around the globe to understand the extent of problem.
Wiping out Soleimani was a very good strategic move and warning that not only offset a rapid escalation and destroyed a very evil man but also raised the grain on the surface of the globe. That is what y’all got to look at.
 
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The facts are the facts.
Yes facts are facts. To say Trump used force against Iran to bolster re-election is a far far stretch here from the facts. Sounds more like a talking point for liberals than the facts.
 
I don’t see how that meets the first test of “certainty” in CCC 2309.

There may be parts of WWII that do not meet the just war doctrine. This action by Trump does not, by a long shot.

There is reference in the CCC for a collective of nations protecting a weak neighbor. This is not the case in this attack. First of all, the Iraqi government did not approve of this action, so we did not do it for Iraqis. We did it on their soil, killing some of their people.
 
That you define it as an act of war doesn’t make it one
If it is not war, then it is simply murder, which goes against the ten commandments and Gospel values.
The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.
The Iraqi government is that which has the responsibility for the common good in Iraq. We wouldn’t want Iraq to be in charge of the common good here in the US if they had people working here.
1909 Finally, the common good requires peace, that is, the stability and security of a just order. It presupposes that authority should ensure by morally acceptable means the security of society and its members. It is the basis of the right to legitimate personal and collective defence.
The US did not get permission from the Iraqi government. There were Iraqi officials killed.
 
If it is not war, then it is simply murder, which goes against the ten commandments and Gospel values.
You keep trying to make this a moral evil simply because you disagree with the action. As you surely (ought to) know one may kill in self defense, which is not war and is not murder. Find another objection.
The Iraqi government is that which has the responsibility for the common good in Iraq. We wouldn’t want Iraq to be in charge of the common good here in the US if they had people working here.
The US is in Iraq with their permission, and it is our government that is responsible for the safety of our citizens.
The US did not get permission from the Iraqi government. There were Iraqi officials killed.
A terrorist is a terrorist.
 
Yes facts are facts. To say Trump used force against Iran to bolster re-election is a far far stretch here from the facts. Sounds more like a talking point for liberals than the facts.
As I’ve said elsewhere, the timing is all wrong given the election is a year out. There will be no spin left to spin on this in a year. This was done (good or bad) on it’s merits alone. They just went too far with the embassy attack, a severe miscalculation by Iran.
 
To say Trump used force against Iran to bolster re-election is a far far stretch here from the facts.
If you are suggesting that I said that, you are completely mistaken.
But what I did say on the subject is an objective, verifiable fact; the supporting evidence behind has been produced in a number of threads.
 
You keep trying to make this a moral evil simply because you disagree with the action.
It’s the other way. I disagree with the action because it is a moral evil, which it is.
one may kill in self defense
This would never meet the criteria of self-defense in any court of law. By your reasoning, if Soleimani’s people had found out about American plans to kill him at the airport, his killing of our leaders would have been just. I hope you see how much this is against the precepts of the Gospel. Much more could have been done instead of assassination.

Please explain how this act meets the criteria below, or simply say you don’t care about the doctrine:
Avoiding war

2307
The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war.105

[2308] All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.

However, "as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.

2309
The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time :
  • the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
  • all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective ;
  • there must be serious prospects of success;
  • the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.
Are you familiar with “an eye for an eye”? Did Jesus tell us to kill in response to killing?
A terrorist is a terrorist.
A “terrorist” is still a person. While we are not to allow enemies to kill us, we are to use whatever means possible before resorting to war. Please explain how this act complies with just war doctrine. None of the people killed, as far as I know, were convicted terrorists, and the death penalty is also disallowed.

I invite you, and all readers, to “prayer and action” to avoid war, as CCC 2307 urges us to do.

🙏
 
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By your reasoning, Soleimani’s people had found out about American plans to kill him at the airport, his killing of our leaders would have been just.
The only reason Soleimani hadn’t killed any of our leaders is that he lacked the ability to do so.
Much more could have been done.
About all that was left for us was surrender.
Please explain how this act meets the criteria below, or simply say you don’t care about the doctrine:
If you maintain that killing Soleimani was an act of war then you must surely admit that attacking our embassies was equally an act of war, a war that Soleimani and his cohorts initiated. That makes him a casualty of war, and with him eliminated that may well make his successors much more circumspect about attacking us again. So there you are, the greatest threat to peace has been eliminated.

As 2308 says, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense.
Are you familiar with “an eye for an eye”? Did Jesus tell us to kill in response to killing?
This is an argument about the justice of punishment; it has nothing to do with the criteria for war or self-defense.
A “terrorist” is still a person. While we are not to allow enemies to kill us, we are to use whatever means possible before resorting to war.
Iran was at war with us, whether we publicly declared it or not. The action we took was not indiscriminate, but targeted at the specific individual responsible for years of carnage.
Please explain how this act complies with just war doctrine.
  • There were no other practical means to eliminate the threat Soleiman posed
  • The prospects for success were about 100%
  • It did not produce evils greater than the evil eliminated
None of the people killed, as far as I know, were convicted terrorists, and the death penalty is also disallowed.
If, as you continue to insist, this is about war, then the criteria regarding trials and punishment do not apply.
 
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About all that was left for us was surrender.
We could have contacted them and met with the Iraqi leadership to negotiate a way of existing there together, some boundaries of action.
There were no other practical means to eliminate the threat Soleiman posed
Not true. We could have negotiated through the Iraqi government.
The prospects for success were about 100%
Possibly.
It did not produce evils greater than the evil eliminated
If Iran retaliates in kind, or escalates, you will be wrong. Now the US is being ordered out of Iraq by Iraqi government.

You forgot this one:

all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective

And remember:

At one and the same time :

This administration, following Israel’s lead, has refused to negotiate with the Iranians. This stance is contrary to the demands of us to avoid war.
 
Whatever happens, it’s all part of God’s providence. And the end is foretold. Dies irae!
The crucifixion of Jesus was also part of God’s providence, and He brought tremendous good out of the evil that was done to Jesus. Yet woe to him by whom the Son of Man was betrayed. It not turn out so well for Judas.

Therefore I would not take comfort in the implication that it will all turn out well for us in particular just because all is in God’s providence. That comfort is only for those that do His will.
 
We could have contacted them and met with the Iraqi leadership to negotiate a way of existing there together, some boundaries of action.
Believing in this is akin to believing in unicorns. Negotiation is not always possible. Do you not believe Iran meant it when she called us the Great Satan and preached Death to America?
If Iran retaliates in kind, or escalates, you will be wrong.
The legitimacy of our act is to be determined by what idiocy Iran initiates? Ours was a measured, limited response to repeated acts of aggression, and a warning that further acts may well be met by “disproportionate response”. Most people know better than to antagonize someone bigger than you. Hopefully this will include Iran.
all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective
I’m pretty sure that the most ineffective means of ending aggression is to do nothing.
 
A general “war on terror” is going on as well, QUDS is designated as a terror organization, officially US designated terror group.
It has been proven that the way that the US and others have conducted the war, terrorism has increased.
A recent study by Neta Crawford at Brown University puts the cost of the War on Terror (both money spent to date and required for future veterans’ benefits) at roughly $5 trillion — a truly astonishing number.4 Even if one believes American efforts have made the nation marginally safer, the United States could have achieved far greater improvements in safety and security at far less cost through other means. It is not hyperbole to say that the United States could have spent its money on almost any federal program aimed at saving lives and produced a vastly greater return on investment.
https://www.cato.org/publications/p...k-lessons-us-foreign-policy-failed-war-terror
I’m pretty sure that the most ineffective means of ending aggression is to do nothing.
This is false. By your statement, Iran should respond to our aggression with more aggression because to do otherwise would be ineffective.
Believing in this is akin to believing in unicorns.
Okay, you do not believe in other means of dealing with these issues other than war. This goes against the CCC, but that’s your choice.
 
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