Breakpoint BONUS: Iran and Just War
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Mar 3, 2026 Eric Patterson, president of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and scholar of just war thought, offers a Christian lens on statecraft and use of force. He discusses Iran's regional behavior, criteria from the just war tradition like legitimate authority and proportionality, questions about timing and preemption, and what lasting peace should look like.
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Strike Seen As Long Overdue Check On Iran
- The Iran strike was seen as long-overdue retribution for decades of Iranian state-sponsored violence and regional destabilization.
- Dr. Eric Patterson cites Iran's 40-year record: massacring protesters, funding proxies across Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and attacks on U.S. forces as grounds for action.
Expand Just War Into Just Statescraft
- Just war thinking must widen into just statecraft to include diplomacy, intelligence, humanitarian work, and post-conflict plans.
- Patterson argues Romans 13 and historical leaders show government duties extend beyond battlefield decisions to shaping peace.
Apply Classic Just War Criteria Rigorously
- Consider the classic just war criteria: legitimate authority, just cause, and right intention before using force.
- Patterson emphasizes causes like justice, self-defense, and protecting the vulnerable, and warns intentions must avoid hatred or dehumanization.
