White House “Kill List” and Presidential Ethics

In a recent exposé, investigative journalists shed light on a secret weekly meeting in which the U.S. President personally decides which terrorists to target for elimination.

According to the article, “In interviews with The New York Times, three dozen of his current and former advisers described Mr. Obama’s evolution since taking on the role, without precedent in presidential history, of personally overseeing the shadow war with Al Qaeda.  They describe a paradoxical leader who shunned the legislative deal-making required to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, but approves lethal action without hand-wringing” (New York Times, May 29, 2012).  

Ironically and sadly, the President’s Counterterrorism Chief and lead advisor in issuing these lethal strikes has been described as a man of “genuine moral rectitude… It’s as though you had a priest with extremely strong moral values who was suddenly charged with leading a war” (ibid.).  

Former and current administration leaders note that the lethal policies are designed to avoid problems associated with capturing and then detaining high-profile targets.  The president’s initial view of “…the Bush administration’s ‘false choice between our safety and our ideals’” has obviously changed during his administration (ibid.).  

Long ago, God clearly stated that murder for any reason is wrong (Exodus 20:13) and He warned of grievous consequences for those breaking this and other commandments (see Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28).  God also warned of a time when the Israelite-descended nations would no longer be ashamed when they commit abominations (Jeremiah 8:12).  

When “civilized” leaders view killing as a “necessary ethical option,” this does suggest that society is reaching “the latter time… when the transgressors have reached their fullness” spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:23).  Thankfully, God’s plan will bring this kind of ungodly activity to an end.  

For more information, see our encouraging booklet, Armageddon and Beyond.