Airstrip One

One For ... 8th October 2002

Jack Spencer, of the Heritage Foundation, has written a useful summary of the current foundations for the strategy of 'pre-emptive action' and its application to the Iraqi crisis, entitled "Presidential Authority in the War on Terrorism: Iraq and Beyond".

They are outlined as follows:

Principles for Preemptive Action
The right to self-defense is codified in customary international law and in the charter of the United Nations.
The right of "anticipatory self-defense" allows for preemptive strikes.
The United States government alone has the authority to determine what constitutes a threat to its citizens and what should be done about it.
The President as commander in chief has the authority to use America's armed forces to "provide for the common defense."

Learning From the September 11 Attacks
Deterrence alone is not sufficient to suppress aggression.
Attacks can occur with little or no warning.
The use of a weapon of mass destruction is reasonably likely.
A deadly synergy is created when hostile state and non-state agents conspire.
The future envisioned by America's enemies is incompatible with U.S. security.

The Case Against Iraq
Warnings have not deterred Iraq from overtly hostile actions that threaten the United States and its interests.
Iraq's ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction means that the United States or its interests could be the targets of an attack with little or no warning.
Iraq's history of using WMD demonstrates the likelihood that it will use them in the future.
Iraq's aggression and ties to international terrorism comprise a deadly combination that must be confronted.
Iraq's blatant disregard for its 1991 cease-fire agreement makes it clear that its vision of the future is incompatible with America's security.

A clear and straightforward 'catch-all' foundation for liberal imperialism, that safeguards US security and sanctions all actions necessary to achieve that goal.

Any country whose actions are perceived to be inimical to the US and has weapons of mass destruction that could be used with little or no warning against them is a legitimate target. Start counting them...Russia, China, India, Pakistan, France, Britain etc. etc.