When is Pre-emptive/Preventitive War JUSTIFIED ?? [View All]

Burtworm and I had this discussion last night.

My post...

I do believe in a world without sticks and stones and rather nukes and chemical/biologic weapons , I think there will be times countries such as the US will have to make difficult decisions about pre-emptive war. Iraq , despite other views, did use chemical weapons at one point. This is a new era and countries, that had the luxury of security , no longer may have that option. Iraq will not be the last pre-emptive war. One wonders had a madman like Hitler been in power today with nukes, would pre-emptive war be justified??....I would say yes.

(I understand these were not present in iraq at the time.)

In addition the US cannot be the worlds policeman, but there may be times where US military action to prevent genocide ( see whats not happening in Darfur) on moral and preventitive grounds is warrented.

Sadly , even in these times of genocde , countries that talk about stopping genocide (see the flaccid EU) are a bunch of pathetic hypocrites....and dump it on the US.

Zhade commented...

You're describing PREVENTATIVE war, not preemptive.
World of difference - mostly the utter lack of an imminent threat (or, in this case, ANY threat).

It's easy to conflate the two, the corporate media and the USG do it all the time.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3792798#3793445

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My thoughts and questions...

1. If a madman like Hitler been in power today with nukes, would pre-emptive war be justified??.(i would say yes)

2.What is the difference between a Preventitive WAR and a Pre-emptive war?....or is it just a matter of interpretation?

3.With the advent of countries having Nuclear( nuk-u-ler),chem and biologic weapons,HAVE THE RULES CHANGED? Do you still have to wait to be attacked and suffer devastating death before you can respond ?

4.And if a state with a history of supporting a terrorist group were to give a nuke to them, would that be justification in pre=emptive war? If Iran were to give a nuke to al-queda would you then feel a pre-emptive war was justified or would you wait and see if they have the guts to use it ?



I dont know the answers but it sure got me thinking.