It’s fair to debate the decisions of both the distant and recent past. I am trying to opt out of that and focus on the question of what we should do now. Not the least reason for this is my sense thst what justifies this war morally is not what justifies in politically or legally. These latter justifications may lack imminence. What justifies it morally, however, is evidenced by the joy of Iranian ex-pats and their tales of brutal oppression. This regime has murdered tens of thousands of Iranians for peaceful protest and brutalized uncounted more. It will be hundreds of thousands murdered if the regime remains in power. This isn’t self-defense. It is defense of others, of the defenseless.
I am not naive enough to believe that is why it is happening. I suspect the answer to that is a complex geopolitical scheme starting with Venezuela and ending with checking China, not to mention vainglory for Trump, but if your leaders are doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, just go with it. I have hope for the Iranian people like I have never dared to hope before. Maybe there will even be Catholics there. And a Middle East without an Islamofascist Iran is also likely one with a much diminished Hezbollah and Hamas, maybe relief for Gaza and improvement in Lebanon as well. I am a dreamer, obviously.
Michael your analysis is spot on. I agree that it’s complicated and two things can be true at the same time, geopolitics and relief of the Iranian people, so let’s dream together.
I agree 100%. Nearly a third of the world's population already lived within range of Iran's missile arsenal. Frightening. Placating and pallets of cash did not deter them in the least.
I am saddened to read a post like this from my pastor. Instead of advocating for peace and emphasizing the sanctity of human life, you are trying to find a way to justify this attack (“perhaps a good idea”) and war despite the lives it will cost and already have. The administration itself has failed to justify their attack on Iran with shifting explanations and even having the president say, referencing oil, ‘You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all.’
If there was a clear justification for the war, the president would have gone through congress. If there was a clear justification, we would have no problem finding support from our allies. Rather, the attack has killed innocent civilians (e.g. girls’ school). It is raining oil and there is no clear plan. The director of the National Counterterrorism Center just resigned saying there was no justification for this war.
Emphasizing the callousness and fecklessness of this administration is the president talking about attacking Kharg Island saying he “may hit it a few more times just for fun.” There is Lindsey Graham saying ‘We're killing all the right people, and we're cutting your taxes.‘ Meanwhile, the White House posts memes glorifying the attacks.
There is nothing just in the motivations for this war by this administration. All of this is disgusting and should be appalling to those who value life.
“I pray for peace every day and I want it for Iran and the whole of the Middle East.”
I’m not saying that war is good. I’m not saying it “was” a good idea. This is why I used the word “perhaps”. If your position is that all war is bad and shouldn’t happen, I would disagree with that. WWII was important for the liberation of the world from Axis powers attacks. So sometimes we have to use force. I also noted above I wasn’t sure if this action would meet just war theory, something Saint Augustine wrote extensively on. I wish you would have come to me personally to share your feelings. I think we have to be open to nuance in foreign policy, and I believe we should support our troops who are in harms way. If this becomes a “forever war” I’m certain my thoughts would change.
As to the girls school, that was a horrible tragedy. As to the resignation of Mr. Kent, it happened today, well after I wrote this post.
I will reiterate, I want peace in the Middle East. My hope is that the President’s actions will further this, it remains to be seen. But what if a free Iran isn’t causing trouble in the region and attacking our ally, Israel, and what if a real and lasting peace can be achieved? I just don’t think it’s as black and white as you have portrayed it, it’s not a binary issue.
I presume things are much clearer now? Per our President 'A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.' This administration has no morality and advocates for genocide. This is as binary as it can be.
I don’t regret my vote. I’m not sure who this is, but I’ll never vote for someone like Kamala Harris who would allow abortion from womb to tomb. I don’t agree with this “genocide” but I also think Iran was a threat to the United States and our allies. Should we have waited for a nuke in Paris or London?
What is it good for?
It’s fair to debate the decisions of both the distant and recent past. I am trying to opt out of that and focus on the question of what we should do now. Not the least reason for this is my sense thst what justifies this war morally is not what justifies in politically or legally. These latter justifications may lack imminence. What justifies it morally, however, is evidenced by the joy of Iranian ex-pats and their tales of brutal oppression. This regime has murdered tens of thousands of Iranians for peaceful protest and brutalized uncounted more. It will be hundreds of thousands murdered if the regime remains in power. This isn’t self-defense. It is defense of others, of the defenseless.
I am not naive enough to believe that is why it is happening. I suspect the answer to that is a complex geopolitical scheme starting with Venezuela and ending with checking China, not to mention vainglory for Trump, but if your leaders are doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, just go with it. I have hope for the Iranian people like I have never dared to hope before. Maybe there will even be Catholics there. And a Middle East without an Islamofascist Iran is also likely one with a much diminished Hezbollah and Hamas, maybe relief for Gaza and improvement in Lebanon as well. I am a dreamer, obviously.
Michael your analysis is spot on. I agree that it’s complicated and two things can be true at the same time, geopolitics and relief of the Iranian people, so let’s dream together.
I agree 100%. Nearly a third of the world's population already lived within range of Iran's missile arsenal. Frightening. Placating and pallets of cash did not deter them in the least.
I am saddened to read a post like this from my pastor. Instead of advocating for peace and emphasizing the sanctity of human life, you are trying to find a way to justify this attack (“perhaps a good idea”) and war despite the lives it will cost and already have. The administration itself has failed to justify their attack on Iran with shifting explanations and even having the president say, referencing oil, ‘You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all.’
If there was a clear justification for the war, the president would have gone through congress. If there was a clear justification, we would have no problem finding support from our allies. Rather, the attack has killed innocent civilians (e.g. girls’ school). It is raining oil and there is no clear plan. The director of the National Counterterrorism Center just resigned saying there was no justification for this war.
Emphasizing the callousness and fecklessness of this administration is the president talking about attacking Kharg Island saying he “may hit it a few more times just for fun.” There is Lindsey Graham saying ‘We're killing all the right people, and we're cutting your taxes.‘ Meanwhile, the White House posts memes glorifying the attacks.
There is nothing just in the motivations for this war by this administration. All of this is disgusting and should be appalling to those who value life.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-suspends-iran-attacks-agrees-to-cease-fire-6009110
“I pray for peace every day and I want it for Iran and the whole of the Middle East.”
I’m not saying that war is good. I’m not saying it “was” a good idea. This is why I used the word “perhaps”. If your position is that all war is bad and shouldn’t happen, I would disagree with that. WWII was important for the liberation of the world from Axis powers attacks. So sometimes we have to use force. I also noted above I wasn’t sure if this action would meet just war theory, something Saint Augustine wrote extensively on. I wish you would have come to me personally to share your feelings. I think we have to be open to nuance in foreign policy, and I believe we should support our troops who are in harms way. If this becomes a “forever war” I’m certain my thoughts would change.
As to the girls school, that was a horrible tragedy. As to the resignation of Mr. Kent, it happened today, well after I wrote this post.
I will reiterate, I want peace in the Middle East. My hope is that the President’s actions will further this, it remains to be seen. But what if a free Iran isn’t causing trouble in the region and attacking our ally, Israel, and what if a real and lasting peace can be achieved? I just don’t think it’s as black and white as you have portrayed it, it’s not a binary issue.
I presume things are much clearer now? Per our President 'A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.' This administration has no morality and advocates for genocide. This is as binary as it can be.
I don’t regret my vote. I’m not sure who this is, but I’ll never vote for someone like Kamala Harris who would allow abortion from womb to tomb. I don’t agree with this “genocide” but I also think Iran was a threat to the United States and our allies. Should we have waited for a nuke in Paris or London?