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. What Is a 'Just War'? | Catholic Answers Q&A
The Catholic bishop responsible for the US military stated that the war against Iran does not meet the requirements of a “just war”.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and one of the most conservative Catholic prelates in the United States, declared the Iran war unjust on CBS’s Face the Nation in an interview set to air Easter Sunday . . . Lower-ranking personnel are obligated to follow orders unless those orders are “clearly immoral.” But Broglio offered his own counsel for Catholic troops caught between obedience and conscience: “Do as little harm as you can, and preserve innocent lives.” “Not Sponsored by the Lord” — Military Archbishop Broglio Declares Iran War Unjust
Some Christian groups, such as the Mennonites, take things a step further and say no war is just even in cases of self-defense.
Is any war just?
If so, is the war against Iran a “just war”?
Or is “might makes right” the only rule that matters?
Really depends on how you look at humanity. I happen to think some very specific situations can be called just war, so long as it is the absolutely last option employed and all other avenues have been exhausted. But historically, very few wars really qualify for that to me.
Historically the US government has attempted spin its wars as “just wars”.
WW2 is arguably the recent US war that comes closest to Catholic requirements for a just war, but firebombing or nuking cities and demands for unconditional surrender are not consistent with some requirements.
A difference with the current Iran war is that the White House and the Pentagon are pretty much ignoring the just-war issue. In some cases, their statements appear to directly contradict the requirements.
The demand for unconditional surrender was very much a political decision, not so much a military one. From a military standpoint, negotiated settlements are fine because the goal is to stop the fighting as fast as possible. Unconditional surrender is called when you have more political goals in mind for the enemy country.
The classic 1941 film, “Sergeant York” with Gary Cooper about a Conscientious Objector who becomes a War Hero –a true WW1 story–really covers the whole question in an unforgettable real world way.
Current Israeli leaders apparently believe that any war is just so long as they declare that they a fighting “Amalek”.
. . . Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ Samuel 15:3
Netanyahu has equated both Gazans and Iranians as “Amalek”.
Do you agree that exterminating people perceived to be a threat to the modern state of Israel is a “just war”?
It’s NOT “just” because of Biblical Quotes or religious fanaticism. In fact, Fanaticism has historically been the culprit in the first place. Neither Israel nor Trump started the war that’s been going on 47 years for us and far longer for Israel. Israel has not been perfect either.
York was the literal definition of a bad ass. His life story was fascinating. He grew up dirt poor in a Tennessee holler and learned to shoot perfectly to help feed his family (his dad was a sharecropper who was a bit incompetent when it came to growing food), then when he was a teenager he got a job on the railroad and became a raging alcoholic who did trick shots for extra money while drunk. Like so good at it that one time when he was plastered drunk outside a bar he shot a quarter that was thrown into the air. Then his best friend and coworker got stabbed to death in a bar fight and pretty much the next day he ended up at a revival tent and became a super fundamentalist Christian.
After that he was drafted and he became the star standout of his battalion at shooting. But then he was told it was time to go to Europe and he initially refused due to his new religion that was anti-war. But they were able to convince him that the Lord was ok with war in certain situations and the dude became a literal killing machine in Europe. And took over 40 Germans prisoner by himself in one engagement.
He’s a real fascinating part of America’s history in WWI. The kind of guy you would expect to have a bunch of modern military tech and equipment named after him but weirdly enough he doesn’t. He’s also probably the one guy who was the literal definition of a terminator.
That’s right. Just pretend that you didn’t just make a fool if yourself by posting a Blackhawk carcass in the middle of of a jungle claiming it was Iran, abd continue your little hatefest diatribe.
Is this propaganda supposed to be more truthful than the other propaganda you post?
Nope.
Seek help.
And do try to venture out of your mommy’s basement.
The word is a name in Genesis. Invoking it is inappropriate and was controversial for Netanyahu just as Shinzo Abe in Japan received lots of flack for Invoking an old Shinto term of Ultra Nationalism. Of course it was leftists who took it literally in the press. Japan not admitting the Rape of Nanking and other past atrocities was a continuation of the ancient Japanese spirit of being a superior race –the Yamato Race myth. Abe had a “Take Back Japan” campaign to restore Japanese honor.
Neither Netanyahu nor Abe are/were religious figureheads, but any chance leftists find/found to attack them in the press was tried.
I am not Catholic, so my understanding of the Catholic just war doctrine might be a little off. While it started off sounding like a just war, if the threats the President has made get carried out it will drastically swing to the unjust side.
This story doesn’t seem to have a date of these events. Was this after the surprise attack on Israel? The story is from extreme leftists at PBS. How can it be trusted as facts? leftist lies go on forever.
How long have the fanatics in Iran been chanting “Death to America?” These are truly crazy people who have murdered thousands of their own people. Fanatics in Hamas and Hezbollah are an extension of Iranian crazies.
If Iran has a bomb they would use it immediately.
Again, they really believe killing every non-fanatic Muslim or non-Muslim gets them into heaven.
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