A case for just war in foreign policy

I felt compelled to comment on a letter in the May 15, 2026, issue of the Remnant in the support of Trump's foreign policy especially in regards to President Donald Trump's war on Iran.

First of all we should recall a statement made by his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "We lie, we cheat, we steal." Of course, he could have gone on to say we also conspire, assassinate, break treaties, ignore the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments. Sad but true; this format has guided our foreign policy for over 100 years. 

The main point I'm trying to make is that we cannot make a reasonable conclusion on Trump's foreign policy when we make a judgment based on misinformation provided by the CIA-controlled news media. It will be unreliable at best. I suggest that we follow just war principles and make our judgment based on the teachings of Christ starting with" do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

How many would just love to have bombs rain down on our kids as they attend school, as they did on day one on our war with Iran? Further on the teachings of Christ, in the book of Ephesians we are taught that "the real evils of the world are the powers and principalities in high places, the world rulers." (Ephesians 6:10 - 17). I wonder if that could include those who take us into a war unnecessarily. 

Those who like to point to the Book of Genesis to make their claim for support of the modern state of Israel ignore the book of Deuteronomy specifically chapter 28, 45-68 where is it explained that the promises made are conditional and those conditions were violated. Back to Christian teachings we are taught that a tree is known by the fruit that it bears, if the fruit is good call the tree, good if the fruit is bad call the tree bad, for a tree is known by the fruit that it bears. With that in mind take a look at Gaza Lebanon Syria and Iraq just for starters. There are just war principles promoted by the church as well as the U.S. Constitution which requires a declaration of war by Congress. Both were violated.

Do we want a government that is loved because it is just or feared because it is strong? If it is the former we are told that we must arm ourselves with truth and put on the breastplate of Justice. We should also ask ourselves how MAGA became make Israel great and why we let AIPAC influence our elections such as in the case of Thomas Massie.

ROBERT VICKARYOUS

Bonners Ferry