tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12795142.post116752752136050387..comments2009-07-12T00:54:09.250+01:00Cianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103748028384262474noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12795142.post-1167753330789443352007-01-02T15:55:00.000Z2007-01-02T15:55:00.000ZTrue, war is rarely taken as a last resort in the modern age and countries like Britain are hypocritical for being anti-death penalty and yet so willing to go to war without justification.<BR/><BR/>I suppose I was speaking ideally and, in the case of Ireland for example, our soldiers might be forced to kill on a UN peace keeping force (or in the new EU battle groups) but only as a last resort to avoid a greater evil... it's still state sanctioned but the State's opposition to the death penalty remains reasonable too.Adamhttp://adammaguire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12795142.post-1167711826191169872007-01-02T04:23:00.000Z2007-01-02T04:23:00.000Zwell put response adam, but i think that war on the above criteria would almost never occur. War is often painted as the last resort when it is in fact the most opportune.<BR/><BR/>My point is perhaps that there is a relationship between the two not so much what it is. I havent read on this it just occured to me that once can pave the way for the other. It seems to stand up to investigation of narratives anyhow.Cianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103748028384262474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12795142.post-1167573922639258612006-12-31T14:05:00.000Z2006-12-31T14:05:00.000ZVery interesting post and well put.<BR/>That said, while I agree that the death penalty personalises state-sanctioned murder I do think that a state can go to war and stay opposed to the death penalty without being hypocritical.<BR/>War is a tool that, in my mind, should be used in the most extreme of situations. It should never be used in aggression, but in defence. It should only be used when there is no other route to take and it is the only way to possibly secure the safety of the nation making the decision (that's a bit of a lose definiton, but hopefully you get my point).<BR/>The death penalty is not carried out in the name of state safety or security, it is carried out as a retrospective response to wrong-doing. There are other options and routes the state can take that would be just as effective (if the desired effect is to bring justice), and in my opinion the death penalty is never the way to punish someone who has done wrong.-----Adamhttp://adammaguire.comnoreply@blogger.com