On January 3, 2020, the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated upon orders of the President of the US. This order targeted a high-ranking official of a sovereign State with which the US was not at war.

This behavior is closer to lawless and immoral behavior than to legitimate public action. Either a government declares war and goes for it on the basis of the laws of war, or it refrains to take hostile action.

Such extreme options are routinely proposed to the President by the military and aides among a range of supposedly credible options. This is quite troubling.

It is distressing that a Head of State gives individual assassination orders. That he declares publicly such brazen behavior and even brags about it as if it was legitimate routine. Such orders are not given out of strength, but out of weakness by a failed President who fears to miss reelection.

TSCF urges the parties to exercise self-restraint and to abide by the rule of law.

We call for ethical reflection on the role and limits of government, as well as on the best means to curb its intervention and to subject it to stricter control.