If he was speaking for himself, could he find the acts "appalling"?

But sometimes acts that would otherwise be appalling are justified, or at least justifiable.

How about killing all those more or less decent Germans, Italians, and Japanese in WW2 to stop the real baddies?

Appalling. Justified. Unfortunately.

(Anyone about to claim that terrorist bombers are no different should read Augustine and Aquinas on "just war theory" and UN Security Council Resolution 1377 before they get back to me.)