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03/20/2003 Entry: ""
Posted by Maynard @ 10:10 AM MST
Assassination
Remember Gerald Ford? He was the only President the US has had that was not elected. During his time in office, he signed an Executive Order forbidding the US from conducting assassinations against heads of state (section 5g). I haven't heard it yet, but I bet that someone, somewhere, is saying or will say that the first strike against Iraq in the most recent unpleasantness is an illegal action. That may be true, but the strike is not immoral. The executive order should be amended so that clause 5g is removed.
This passage from Judges gives insight into what the Bible says about assassination:
Judges 3
- But when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
- Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his cloak.
- He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
- It came about when he had finished presenting the tribute, that he sent away the people who had carried the tribute.
- But he himself turned back from the idols which were at Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." And he said, "Keep silence." And all who attended him left him.
- Ehud came to him while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." And he arose from his seat.
- Ehud stretched out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.
- The handle also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the refuse came out.
- Then Ehud went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the roof chamber behind him, and locked them.
- When he had gone out, his servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, He is only relieving himself in the cool room."
- They waited until they became anxious; but behold, he did not open the doors of the roof chamber. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor dead.
- Now Ehud escaped while they were delaying, and he passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.
- It came about when he had arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was in front of them.
- He said to them, "Pursue them, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hands." So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross.
- They struck down at that time about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped.
- So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years
James Bond has nothing on Ehud.
There are three things to note about this passage. First, Israel cried out to God for deliverance, and God delivered. Second, the deliverance (Ehud) struck at the head of the oppressor. Third, the deliverance was complete, Israel was given victory. Victory from God, despite taking what would be considered today an 'illegal' action against a head of state.
The reasoning behind the morality of assassination is simple. Successfully striking the head removes the threat by eliminating leadership. When coupled with a rapid strike against the army of the enemy, an assassination can result in a quick, thorough victory. When the war ends quickly, civilians stop dying.
Gerald Ford's Executive Order 11905 gives lots of clarification and guidance on how the US Government should behave. However, clause 5g is immoral and should be eliminated.
Replies:  (2)
Why do I get the feeling you just wanted to brag about being a southpaw?
Posted by Jeremy @ 03/20/2003 09:45 PM MST
hee hee hee ...
Posted by Maynard @ 03/20/2003 11:29 PM MST
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