Peter Kilner

We can train our soldiers to kill the enemy w an attitude of compassion for their misguided ways; hatred isn't helpful or healthy

Pacifists focus on the minority of civilians harmed by fighting, ignoring the much greater # who are protected by a just war.

The human heart's deep desire to love self-sacrificially--ignored & mocked by modern sensibilities--is fulfilled in combat. Sadly ironic

Presented for 1st time "A Christian, love-based moral justification for killing in war" yesterday at #messiahcollege.

In civi life, #1 duty is to be moral, then work for success; in a just war, #1 moral duty is to win, being as moral as possible

Does military suffer from strategic mission creep? Do we insist on M (in DIME) where unnecessary, to justify larger budget?

What I'm reading now--Taught to Kill: An American Boy's War from the Ardennes to Berlin, by John B Babcock; intro by Rick Atkinson

Needed: a way to wage war when necessary for justice, for peace, without succumbing to hatred

recipe for war crimes: anger about casualties + perceived "unfair" acts + drug use + weak leadership

#Bergdahl planned for weeks & then deserted his unit during critical period in Afghan campaign, disrupting it; he deserves severe punishment

3 P's for soldiers: protect the innocent, punish the deserving, preserve your soul

The Pacifist & Anti-vaccine mvmts are akin; they r ignorant of history's lessons & "free ride" on gains won by those they oppose

We can celebrate victories in war without celebrating war itself. A just war is a moral necessity--tragic to wage, essential to win

If a war is important enough to wage, it's imperative to win. It's immoral to enter a war we are not committed to winning #dontwastelives

In cyberwar as in climate change, actions of a few will likely harm all, as internet--like environment--ignores national boundaries

President says our military "takes out" terrorist plotters. I wish he'd avoid euphemism. We kill them. Say it.

Def of terrorism: violence to civilians to create mass fear to influence political change #SanBernardino Not all mass murder is terrorism

For a nation at war, as for an individual, self interest can cloud moral decisionmaking