Originally posted by: bsobel
I'm using the moral war criteria as set forth by St. Augustine. This has been the criteria for hundreds of years. Why dump it now?
Jahawkin, I'm not going to attack your position (yet), I was trying to point out is that your stating your beliefs as fact. You then responded with the above, esentially doing the same thing again. Those who believe the war is just believe it passes the criteria as set forth by St. Augustine, those who don't support the war don't.
"Let us look first at the criteria of St. Augustine, later elaborated by St. Thomas. He lays down three conditions for a just war. First, it must be carried by a due authority, that is, those who have responsibility for the common good, and not merely private individuals: "The natural order conducive to peace among mortals demands that the power to declare and counsel war should be in the hands of those who hold the supreme authority" (Contra Faust. XXII §75). Second, it must be for a just cause, of which St. Augustine gives examples: "A just war is wont to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects, or to restore what it has seized unjustly" (QQ. in Hept., qu. 10, super Jos.). Finally, it must be carried out with right intention, so that the force used is proportionate to the ends of justice. As St. Augustine explains, "The passion for inflicting harm, the cruel thirst for vengeance, an unpeaceful and relentless spirit, the fever of revolt, the lust of power, and such like things, all these are rightly condemned in war" (Contra Faust. XXII §74)."
1) I can argue the US is a due authority as well as you can argue that only the UN should be
2) I can argue the war is for a just cause, just as well as you can argue it isn't
3) I can aruge it's being carried out with the right intentions as well as you can argue it's not.
I'll I'm asking is you stop making statements of your personal beliefs as facts.
Bill