Excellent breakdown about whether that assassination was legal.

[nolabear]

It’s complex and I’m thinking about it. What constitutes an attack on a country? How is what 45 did in keeping with the intent of the Constitution?

https://www.justsecurity.org/64645/top-experts-backgrounder-military-action-against-iran-and-us-domestic-law/

[crazytown]

1. If Iran killed one of the Joint Chiefs with a missile

would would the USA think about legality?

[nolabear]

4. I don't understand the question. Did you read the article?

It would be a different situation altogether. What do you think about this one?

[Bucky]

9. Again, context matters

If an American general were in a third country clandestinely orchestrating attacks by irregular militia on an Iranian diplomatic outpost, a retaliatory kill would not necessarily be an act of war.

You can't really compare the Quds Force of Iran to members of the joint chiefs of staff. They are ancillary to the regular military of Iran and answer directly to the religious Supreme Council. There's a clue in the name Quds, which means Jerusalem, the ultimate conquest goal of Islamic extremists. The closest American equivalent would be the fillybustering adventurers before the US Civil War who kept on trying to take over Guatemala or Nicaragua under the flag of manifest destiny.

Because they're authorized to operate out side of Iran's borders, some people compare them to the CIA. But their zone of operation is military, not intelligence. And they're not all that responsive to government oversight.

[Ex Lurker]

13. Nobody misses the guy

including probably most Iranians, except for apparently Rose McGowan, who points out once again the seemingly infinite capability of celebrities to say stupid shit, which is why it annoys me no end that DUers put so much stock in anything celebrities say, even those we agree with.

The world is better off without him. I do question the timing, method, and motivation, as well as whether we, meaning the leadership, are prepared for what we've gotten into.

[Bucky]

14. This was definitely swatting a fly with a hand grenade

[lapfog_1]

2. In WWII we targeted Yamamoto

which was argued at the time (and later) that this was a war crime.

OTOH, we were in a declared war with Japan and he was actively serving as a military officer in the military.

We are not in a declared war with Iran.

[nolabear]

5. Right. It's complex. There are many elements to consider.

As there should be. The lack of considering them is part of the worry.

[Kaleva]

12. When was it ever argued that killing Yamamoto may have been a war crime?

We firebombed Japanese cities which resulted in the death of many 10's of thousand deaths of civilian men, women and children and that was not considered to be a war crime.

[Eyeball_Kid]

3. At this juncture, Congress it too weak to stop Trump from making war.

Sure, the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, but that hasn't stopped ANY president since WWII from blowing up and killing in the name of self defense. This time, Trumpy has the thinnest of excuses (future plans for attacks) for starting a war, and he'll get away with it. He'll use the Patriot Act to increase the killing.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. That's the long and short of it. Plus, this particular POTUS uses the Constitution as TP

[braddy]

7. That seems to be about action against Iran, not taking out a terrorist leader in Iraq with a drone.

We have been taking out lots of terrorist leaders.

[nolabear]

8. Right. It's not the same. How or is this act covered?

This is kind of an academic exercise I know but it’s interesting, and hell, it’s not like 45 and crew are telling anyone anything.

[braddy]

10. The same as other terrorist leaders who kill us and are in the process of attacking our embassy.

People seem to forget that our embassy is still smoldering and facing more attacks and this terrorist leader was the mastermind and overall leader and the Lt. killed with him was one of the ground leaders of this ongoing embassy attack.

People seem to have forgotten our embassy's situation and think that we went to Iran to execute a General sitting in an office.

[MineralMan]

11. Legal according to the laws of what country?

Every nation has its own laws. Sovereignty, it's called.

[nolabear]

15. Ours. Did you read it? This isn't a screed, it's just an examination.

The question is complex on this day.