[RobbyS]

as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed."10

To me this is key.

[dsc]

As bad as national governments are, imagine what a disaster a world government would be.

Perhaps the position of the Church was adopted prior to the advent of highly portable, easily smuggled biological agents.

When Napoleon attacked a country, he had to get his army together, and march to their border before he could even attack outlying areas, much less population centers.

There was time for thought and negotiation, and even if the other country waited until his army was on the march, they had time to respond.

That's not true when the threat is a devout Muslim with a suitcase full of anthrax-leprosy-mu, or whatever.

Does anyone really assert that we must wait until millions die in agony before we can assert our right of self defense, even when we can see old Achmed over there preparing the aerosol dispensers for his attack?