Ohmar, Lee, Kaine, announce war powers resolution to prevent war with Iran

[Bill the Cat]

Is political assassination a Christian act ?

If the US can do that sort of thing with an easy conscience, how can it claim to be acting in accord with the Gospels ?

One suspects that a lot of US preachers are going to be riffling through the OT in order to “prove” that political assassination undertaken by a POTUS is totally commanded by God. And I very much hope that does not happen, for if it does, it will reflect extremely badly on US Evangelicalism.

It is very troubling that political assassination, when practiced centuries ago, was often embarrassing to those Christians who tolerated or allowed or commanded it - but now, it seems to trouble Christians very little. (Political assassination committed by one’s enemies was, of course, an abomination.)
It is as though Christians are becoming coarsened, and are prepared to defend or at least tolerate what, in saner moments, they would admit was wicked & indefencible. Christians used to oppose aerial bombing of civilian centres - that scruple is now dead. A Christianity that gives way on issue after another, commits a slow suicide.
Unless Christians stop acquiescing in wicked acts committed by the authority of the State, why should anyone care what they say on other, more theologically central, issues ?

Have you read Chronicles and Kings?

[Mountain Man]

Have you read Chronicles and Kings?

Or the book of Judges.

[Rushing Jaws]

Have you read Chronicles and Kings?

Indeed. And Judith. And Judges.

But none of these books are Christian. The Christian’s moral example is meant to be, not Eglon, or Jael, or Judith, or the murderers of Amon, but Christ.

[NorrinRadd]

Is political assassination a Christian act ?

If the US can do that sort of thing with an easy conscience, how can it claim to be acting in accord with the Gospels ?

One suspects that a lot of US preachers are going to be riffling through the OT in order to “prove” that political assassination undertaken by a POTUS is totally commanded by God. And I very much hope that does not happen, for if it does, it will reflect extremely badly on US Evangelicalism.

It is very troubling that political assassination, when practiced centuries ago, was often embarrassing to those Christians who tolerated or allowed or commanded it - but now, it seems to trouble Christians very little. (Political assassination committed by one’s enemies was, of course, an abomination.)
It is as though Christians are becoming coarsened, and are prepared to defend or at least tolerate what, in saner moments, they would admit was wicked & indefencible. Christians used to oppose aerial bombing of civilian centres - that scruple is now dead. A Christianity that gives way on issue after another, commits a slow suicide.
Unless Christians stop acquiescing in wicked acts committed by the authority of the State, why should anyone care what they say on other, more theologically central, issues ?

The U.S. is not a theocracy, Christian or otherwise, for which I thank God.

I don't care if we, as a nation, act "in accord with the Gospels." If we're going to get into wars, I want our primary goal to be "WIN!!!" I especially don't want us diddling around with endless "proportional responses," which is just another name for "quagmire warfare." In my personal life, I aspire to Matt. 18:21-22. But in warfare, I want our nation to imitate Lamech in Gen. 4:23-24.

[Starlight]

if the "second in command" happens to be in a battle space coordinating attacks, he has relinquished his 'diplomatic immunity.

I don't necessarily disagree with that: Say there's a battle occurring, and the general is with his forces in battle actively commanding them, okay, he's "in" the battle and if he dies in it, tough biscuits to him.

In this case the guy was transiting through an international airport on the way to a diplomatic meeting about peace negotiations with the Iraqi Prime Minister. That isn't a battle space.

A civilian international airport is not a "battle space".

Travelling to a scheduled meeting with a Prime Minister is not "coordinating attacks".

He was at the capital, without troops, in person on a diplomatic mission, on a scheduled visiting to see the Prime Minister, and travelling through a civilian airport. He was definitely not, at that point in time, commanding a battle.

[Starlight]

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Are you saying Trump achieved nothing?

[Bill the Cat]

Are you saying Trump achieved nothing?

No. He is saying that they hate us no matter what we do.

[Mountain Man]

No. He is saying that they hate us no matter what we do.

Exactly. The liberal narrative that taking out Solemani changed Iran's attitude towards the US is pure ignorance.

[JimL]

Our government doesn’t pretend to be a Christian government. And I’m not thrilled about us being in a Iraq in the first place.

The right wing side of our government certainly does.

[JimL]

No. He is saying that they hate us no matter what we do.

Whether they hate us or not has nothing to do with it. That they can't trust in agreements they make with us is the problem. This entire escalation of hostilities has to do with Trump pulling out of the agreement made concerning their nuclear development and the re-imposition of crippling sanctions.

[Bill the Cat]

Whether they hate us or not has nothing to do with it. That they can't trust in agreements they make with us is the problem. This entire escalation of hostilities has to do with Trump pulling out of the agreement made concerning their nuclear development and the re-imposition of crippling sanctions.

Hostilities have been escalating since 1978. It's ebb and flow.

[JimL]

Hostilities have been escalating since 1978. It's ebb and flow.

So you don't think that the current events were an escalation of hostilities? The current escalation isn't necessarily over yet and could escalate further if cooler heads don't prevail.

[Bill the Cat]

So you don't think that the current events were an escalation of hostilities? The current escalation isn't necessarily over yet and could escalate further if cooler heads don't prevail.

Oh, it's escalating. But us pulling out of the Nuclear farce was just their latest excuse to go after the great satan...

[JimL]

Oh, it's escalating. But us pulling out of the Nuclear farce was just their latest excuse to go after the great satan...

Good for you. That's what I said. Trump pulled out of an agreement the U.S. made with Iran which caused an escalation of hostilities which should have been known would happen.

[Cow Poke]

In this case the guy was transiting through an international airport on the way to a diplomatic meeting about peace negotiations with the Iraqi Prime Minister.

How do you know that?