General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So what is your red line? If Iran used a nuke and killed 1 million of it's own people [View all]LWolf
(46,179 posts)As an individual, my red line is right in front of my nose.
If someone within my physical reach to help is attacked, I will be there. I will be there with my cell phone to call 911, and my body to offer as protection. I will not carry nor use a firearm.
As a citizen of a nation, my NATIONAL red line is here:
If someone launches a physical attack on the nation, I want us to defend ourselves. Right here. I don't need to chase the attacker around the globe. I am actively opposed to compromising civil liberties at home in the name of "security." I don't need revenge, punishment, or to prove anything to anybody. I just need to end the attack.
As for the rest of the world...I am actively opposed to unilateral action anywhere. I am willing to support UN efforts to intervene to protect human rights IF:
1. Multiple diplomatic efforts and other sanctions have been vigorously pursued, supported, given time, and still failed.
2. There is global consensus on the need to use military force.
3. The U.S. is one part of a multi-national force acting under UN command.
Edited to add:
I don't believe violence is ever an appropriate tool. Because I'm human, and not a saint, I will use physical force to protect, only in the last extremities after everything else has been tried first, and only to stop harm.
To protect. Not to attack.