Whether it is lawful to lay ambushes in war?
Objection 1. It would seem that it is unlawful to lay ambushes in war. For it is written (Dt. 16:20): "Thou shalt follow justly after that which is just." But ambushes, since they are a kind of deception, seem to pertain to injustice. Therefore it is unlawful to lay ambushes even in a just war.
Objection 2. Further, ambushes and deception seem to be opposed to faithfulness even as lies are. But since we are bound to keep faith with all men, it is wrong to lie to anyone, as Augustine states (Contra Mend. xv). Therefore, as one is bound to keep faith with one's enemy, as Augustine states (Ep. ad Bonif. clxxxix), it seems that it is unlawful to lay ambushes for one's enemies.
Objection 3. Further, it is written (Mt. 7:12): "Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them": and we ought to observe this in all our dealings with our neighbor. Now our enemy is our neighbor. Therefore, since no man wishes ambushes or deceptions to be prepared for himself, it seems that no one ought to carry on war by laying ambushes.
On the contrary, Augustine says (QQ. in Hept. qu. x super Jos): "Provided the war be just, it is no concern of justice whether it be carried on openly or by ambushes": and he proves this by the authority of the Lord, Who commanded Joshua to lay ambushes for the city of Hai (Joshua 8:2).
I answer that, The object of laying ambushes is in order to deceive the enemy. Now a man may be deceived by another's word or deed in two ways. First, through being told something false, or through the breaking of a promise, and this is always unlawful. No one ought to deceive the enemy in this way, for there are certain "rights of war and covenants, which ought to be observed even among enemies," as Ambrose states (De Officiis i).
Secondly, a man may be deceived by what we say or do, because we do not declare our purpose or meaning to him. Now we are not always bound to do this, since even in the Sacred Doctrine many things have to be concealed, especially from unbelievers, lest they deride it, according to Mt. 7:6: "Give not that which is holy, to dogs." Wherefore much more ought the plan of campaign to be hidden from the enemy. For this reason among other things that a soldier has to learn is the art of concealing his purpose lest it come to the enemy's knowledge, as stated in the Book on Strategy [Stratagematum i, 1 by Frontinus. Such like concealment is what is meant by an ambush which may be lawfully employed in a just war.
Nor can these ambushes be properly called deceptions, nor are they contrary to justice or to a well-ordered will. For a man would have an inordinate will if he were unwilling that others should hide anything from him
This suffices for the Replies to the Objections.
"Mohammed is Allah's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another." (48:29, Quran)
"When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and pay the alms-tax, let them go their way. Allah is forgiving and merciful." (9:4, Quran)
Proper authority, just cause, rightful intention. Three out of three for the War on Terrorism.
patent
Some of you may be familiar with Fr. Perricone from his appearances on EWTN. I believe he currently has a show on EWTN about the Mass. He is an excellent teacher. His enthusiasm for the subject, as well as his vast knowledge, is clearly evident. As part of his ChristiFideles organization, he teaches an Aquinas class which I have been attending. I am enjoying it very much.
Aquinasfan, Fr. Perricone wrote an article about how Thomas Aquinas has been (deliberately?) neglected in the seminaries. If it hasn't been posted to the ChristiFideles site, I will get it to you if you are interested.
"We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace."
Americans cannot enjoy PEACE from terrorism until terrorists are vanquished.
how do you explain Joan of Arc?
"Now those who wage war are threatened by Our Lord with punishment, according to Mt. 26:52: "All that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Therefore all wars are unlawful."
Let's expand the biblical passage a bit, Mt 26:51-54
" With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Put your sword back in its place, Jesus said to him, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Jesus objected to the use of force here, because it was not His will to resist the Sanhedrin guards. His comment that those that live by the sword will die by it can be understood as follows.
God became man to come here and teach, knowing full well He would be killed by those that are fundamentally opposed to His teachings. Those opposers are those that live by the sword. They are the ones that coerce and usurp the wills of others, just as satin had done.
Living by the sword denotes ones will is coerced on others. It is in direct disobedience to His command that one love ones neighbor as one's self. The free will that He gave as a gift to all is not to be usurped by those more proficient in the art of coercion. Death is damnation itself and in order for that to occur the damned must reject the Holy Spirit. That fact of rejection is known only to God, it is His determination and judgement.
War waged in self defence, the defence of Freedom and the defence of other rights are not living by the sword. It is simply the preservation of rights and sovereignty of will that is the right of all. Jesus on this occasion and before Pilate said legions of angels are at His disposal, in His Kingdom. God does not live by the sword.
" Further, whatever is contrary to a Divine precept is a sin. But war is contrary to a Divine precept, for it is written (Mt. 5:39): " But I say to you not to resist evil"; ... Therefore war is always sinful.
The entire passage (Mt 38-48)should be read, but here's the ending: Mt 5:44-48:
" But I tell you: Love your enemies[9] and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
His commands are to forgive and not seek vengeance. Again it is to love others as yourself. The key to understanding this is understanding what it means to love one's self. You can not love yourself if you turn your will over to another under coercive forces. God didn't do it, and He doesn't expect anyone else to do it either. What He is asking is that those that love Him do their best to be the light of the world in His name. That is giving glory to God. Just as Jesus tossed the money changers out of His house though, He is not asking, or commanding surrender to the will of evil men. That would be contrary to loving Him, and gives glory to satin. The determination to be made by the individual here amounts to a consideration of the consequences and meaning of "turning to the other cheek".
" But war is contrary to peace. Therefore war is always a sin."
Again, war is a clash of wills that involves coercion. Peace requires the absence of coercion. As long as there is coercion war exists. The last response covers this.
Contemporary relevance:
Terrorists are waging war on the more influential western populations. What they are after is the domination of their wills for their own gain. The west has responded with a campaign to shut down terrorist operations and "educatioinal" centers. This barbarism is pure evil and should not be tolerated. Jesus wouldn't put up with this crap except for the sake of the rest of us.