The ethical challenges surrounding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military technology and strategy globally are significant. However, during a recent discussion on the Defense Department's stance on autonomous warfare, Lt. Gen. Richard G. Moore Jr. , a three-star Air Force general, made concerning remarks. As reported by The Washington Post, Moore stated that the United States has an advantage over its adversaries due to being guided by the "right" holy books. This assertion reflects a clash-of-civilizations-style ideology more commonly associated with the war on terror, which is troubling. While military rules afford Moore the right to express his religious beliefs, it is striking to hear a high-ranking officer attribute the United States' perspective on the use of force to religious texts. The United States is intended to be a secular state, and it would be more appropriate for an officer representing the nation to view the country's ideological outlook in nonreligious terms, such as adherence to international law. Moore's assertion that opponents of the United States lack a moral compass due to a rejection of Judeo-Christian values is an extraordinary claim. However, he failed to specify which countries he was referring to. When considering countries like Russia, a top-tier adversary of the United States, it becomes clear that the argument is flawed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for instance, justifies his aggression in Ukraine by citing his Christian beliefs. Similarly, George W. Bush, another deeply religious Christian leader, led a war in Iraq despite Judeo-Christian beliefs. Whether or not China, a rising military power, embraces religion is less concerning than its geopolitical interests and its increasing appetite for global power projection. The values that powerful nations like the United States and China assert and abide by when competing for resources and influence on the global stage are the most relevant factors. While a country's spiritual and cultural heritage may shape these values, they neither guarantee virtuous nor immoral conduct. In general, conflicts among great powers can be brutal, and any form of religious values or tribalism can be used to justify or oppose the resulting brutality. Moore's comments also bring attention to the development of lethal autonomous drones that can operate without human input. The deployment of such weapons raises questions about the safeguards in place to prevent civilian casualties and the legality of autonomous weapons as a whole. We may be on the verge of a transformation in how wars are waged. What we need from American military leaders now is not an overconfident belief in civilizational superiority but rather humility in tackling the extremely complex questions that have yet to find satisfactory answers.