“Lilmod, the libertarians notwithstanding, it is clear that states may do what individual may not do. A state may imprison or even execute people.”
Avi, who says? I know that is what the world thinks, but who cares what the world thinks? Where does one see that the Torah allows such a thing?
Imprisoning and executing people are different. They are only allowed to do that if said people are criminals for the purpose of preventing crime. The Torah specifically says they have a chiyuv to do that.
The equivalent example would be going to war to fight terrorism or to defend oneself or to defend another country who is being unfairly attacked. I have no problem with any of that. I am talking about going to war in order to steal someone else’s land.