Is War Justified Murder? Options

[Kontroll]

I feel that the killing or for specific terms, murder of one soldier by another soldier is justified. The soldier is protecting our society, he is protecting our individual rights as a citizen of a certain country. If I've forgotten more then tell me. But I'm sure you all have the point. I feel that it's justified, but some people don't.

If a citizen or ordinary person killed or murdered another person to save another person from losing his life is he right?

I really want to see how people view this topic. If I have not made myself clear, then just ask me to clarify. Thanks.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

I have never been to war, obviously. I don't really think it's anyone's place to call people who are over there busting their asses day and night so people in America can still sleep in their own beds murders. I guess it's more a a kill or be killed. Even if it's premeditated I don't think it will matter to say "Oh, at least we didn't murder anyone" when some terrorist decides to make an attack on America 100 times worse than 9/11. But that's just my opinion. I can understand why you would say even if it's for a split second you knew you were going to kill them, I don't think many of the soldiers WANT to kill them though. The motive for murder during war is much different than some woman murdering a woman that her husband cheated on her with... she wants her dead.

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

I have never been to war, obviously. I don't really think it's anyone's place to call people who are over there busting their asses day and night so people in America can still sleep in their own beds murders.

I agree with you on that. They're not murderers in Americans' eyes.. But to the other country, soldiers may be viewed as murderers.

Even if it's premeditated I don't think it will matter to say "Oh, at least we didn't murder anyone" when some terrorist decides to make an attack on America 100 times worse than 9/11. But that's just my opinion.

Umm, I didn't exactly understand that. Can you clarify it?

I can understand why you would say even if it's for a split second you knew you were going to kill them, I don't think many of the soldiers WANT to kill them though. The motive for murder during war is much different than some woman murdering a woman that her husband cheated on her with... she wants her dead.

The motive doesn't matter. Murder is still murder.

In English law, murder is considered the most serious form of homicide where one person kills another either intending to cause death or intending to cause serious injury in a situation where death is virtually certain (originally termed malice aforethought even though it requires neither malice nor premeditation). Following the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, the mandatory sentence is life imprisonment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_English_law

In war, soldiers intend to kill people. According to the passage above, it's murder.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

The motive doesn't matter. Murder is still murder.

So are you saying that there's no such thing as murder in self defense?

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

So are you saying that there's no such thing as murder in self defense?

Self defense wouldn't be murder at all, but the person who shoots the first bullet (and kills someone) would be a murderer because they weren't really defending themselves.

*ding

I hope you're ready beacuase you've opened a can of worms that I'm not sure you can handle.

When engaged in combat, you are not actively seeking people out and murdering them. That would be a crime. A murder is one sided. The victim either cannot defend themselves or does not see it coming. A killing that occurs in combat is under the agreement and knowledge that, of the two sides, one has to win. If you got shot at, would you sit there and hope that a 7.62 does rip through your skull and splatter your brains all over your platoon Sergeant's face, or do you fight back and end the lives of all those who threaten the safety of you or your Marines?

Exactly.

That's defense.
Someone has to start the fighting. It's not like both sides charge at the same time and start shooting.. Now, if someone is killed with lets say.. a sniper rifle, starting a battle, that'd be murder.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

Self defense wouldn't be murder at all, but the person who shoots the first bullet (and kills someone) would be a murderer because they weren't really defending themselves.

Well, when you said that even if a person thinks about it for a split second it was premeditated, which makes it wrong. If you're trying to defend yourself... for example if someone is trying to kidnap you and you fight back and kill them that would be murder, right? Because when you were fighting back you knew, even if for a split second, that they were going to die. Whether you physically fought that person or actually shot them or stabbed them.

I still stick by what I've said... killing in war is different than killings/murders that happen here. It's kill or be killed.