Spy

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stjosephtomasi

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an American spy sneaks into a top-security restricted zone in Russia.

a Russian army officer is about to find him.

the spy attacks and kills the Russian officer.

is such a killing morally justified?
 
Only if possible death is imminent, which in this case I would say there is a strong likelihood. And we can only kill someone as self defense if there are not alternative means to stopping the aggressor.
 
What if the spy just killed him because the officer wasnt going to kill him, but rather he was going to expose that he was a spy to the world. Thus creating much embarrisment for the spying country, and also creating international troubles that could result in a war. I would kill the officer…grudgingly of coarse.
 
I would hope that I would turn to God and that He would give me courage to face death. A couple of questions would be: How do we know if the Russian officer has any intent of killing spy? Wouldn’t it be better to die with a good conscience than to face Almighty God with blood on your hands when our time is up here? However, probably easier said than done. Anyway are Americans still concerns about the Russians? :confused:
 
If we were all honest here, we would kill him in a heartbeat. It’s called the "fight or flight " response.

Kathy
 
Katie1723 said:
If we were all honest here, we would kill him in a heartbeat. It’s called the "fight or flight " response.

Kathy
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LOL… obviously you haven’t been in the military. Killing isn’t that easy.

But really, this is just the same as killing in war.
 
mschrank said:
LOL… obviously you haven’t been in the military. Killing isn’t that easy.

But really, this is just the same as killing in war.
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Thanks for the reminder of the difficulties soldiers must face. We who have not served often don’t realize what you have gone through. Thanks for your service!
 
Larry1700 said:
Thanks for the reminder of the difficulties soldiers must face. We who have not served often don’t realize what you have gone through. Thanks for your service!
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Hehe, well, Air Force is hardly muddy boots, but my brother is a paratrooper and his friends have actually taken life. Nobody should ever think its easy, even when its a Iraqi coming at you with an AK47.
 
stjosephtomasi said:
Is this the same as killing in war?
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Did you use the word “war” in the opening post? If two countries are at war then a soldier is in a war action. If the countries are at peace what is the justification? If you were the person who was training the spy what would you have instructed the spy to do during your training sessions?
 
MCS7474 said:
What if the spy just killed him because the officer wasnt going to kill him, but rather he was going to expose that he was a spy to the world. Thus creating much embarrisment for the spying country,
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That wouldn’t happen. At this point, there are two possibilities.

A. The spy kills the soldier (or subdues him in some other way if possible)

B. The soldier calls for aid, the spy is captured…then either killed, or thrown in prison for a very, very long time. Probably killed.

I have no experience in this matter, but I highly doubt a spy once caught will be let go with a slap on the wrist. I know that the penalty for spying was death in many countries, and I believe it still is. In my opinion, the spy would be perfectly justified in killing the soldier. As mschrank said, its the same as soldiers killing in war.

mschrank, thank you for your service sir.
 
I think it could be argued that it was self defense… (I’m assuming that we are talking about a situation where the 2 sides involved are, if not at war, at least in something that is much like the Cold War…).

I have to say thank you, mschrank.
 
I posed the question because someone told me that this happened to him.

The question in my mind revolves around whether it is morally justifiable to prevent being captured by killing someone.

I also wonder if it makes a difference if this is done during a cold war (no real combat) period.
 
stjosephtomasi said:
I posed the question because someone told me that this happened to him.

The question in my mind revolves around whether it is morally justifiable to prevent being captured by killing someone.

I also wonder if it makes a difference if this is done during a cold war (no real combat) period.
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Well…You know, I don’t know how old you are, but I grew up during the Cold War, & it was very much a war! The fact that there were no battles between armies, does not detract from it being a war.
When I was in grade school, we had air raid drills, where we had to go down to the bottom floor of the school, & hunch down with our faces to the floor, backs rounded up…That was in case the Russians attacked, you were the most likely to live, if you were in that position. I had nightmares!
People were killing people, people were being captured, and tortured, and then executed…Don’t downplay how much of a war it was, when thinking about these things.
It was a very scary time, to be a little child…I remember my mother taking a regular volunteer slot, spotting for enemy aircraft in a little hut, with binoculars & a special radio set, to alert the military. Most everybody did it…

So, take that into account, when considering these things…
 
The American spy should kill the Russian officer if the American govt has given him permission to do so in such situations. In my opinion, he is an agent of his government, in a similar way to a soldier or the person administering the lethal injection to a prisoner sentenced to death. He is not personally culpable.
 
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