First Pre-emptive War

[tm22721]

9/11 was a pre-emptive attack...

BUMP

[Consort]

Pre-emption must become the norm in light of the destructive potential and transportability of modern weapons of mass murder. No more waiting to get hit first and then reacting.

[xzins]

By that logic, then Iraq isn't preemptive either. They haven't abided by the terms of their surrender after their invasion of Kuwait.

[Charles Henrickson]

If Saddam has been involved in sponsoring, supporting, or sheltering terrorists, then it ain't "pre-emptive." It's "post-emptive."

[apeman81]

Ah, I see. We can equip, support, and transport the troops, Cuban exiles living in the US, so long as they have not yet been granted citizenship.

Or are you arguing that since the US equipped, supported, and transported troops are not members of the US military, its OK?

Just wanna know.

[Kadric]

Actually Germany declared war on us after we declared war on Japan.

[cynicom]

Cuba to most, Cuber to JFK.

[apeman81]

Exactly. Now if only everyone could see the truth so easily.

[cynicom]

Arguing nothing, twist it anyway you see fit. Have at it.

[amused]

"It would be the first preventive war in U.S. history, the first time the nation has attacked without being struck first"

The first part would be correct except to my knowledge "preventive war" has never really been waged and it is more a rhetorical phrase than actual circumstance.

The second line is misleading. Every war we have been involved in "started" before we got involved or because we were harassed or attacked in some way(this includes Barbary Pirates, Spain, Indian wars, Mexico, & the curent situation with Iraq which has been a cold war since 1991).

[apeman81]

Thanks for playing.

[billbears]

was against a group, not a nation state

[MattAMiller]

Serbia
Panama
Grenada
Hati

We weren't directly attacked before Korea, Vietnam, or the first Gulf War either. And we probably could have made nice with Hitler if we really felt like it since Germany never attacked us. The Revolution was not a defensive war. And who was the agressor in the Civil War is a matter of debate.

[SunStar]

Susan Page in an article for USA TODAY writes "It would be the first preventive war in U.S. history, the first time the nation has attacked without being struck first.

When did Serbia attack us?
When did Bosnia attack us?
When did Haiti attack us?
When did Iraq attack us in 1991?
When did Panama attack us?
When did Grenada attack us?
When did North Korea attack us?
When did Vietnam attack us?
When did Germany attack us?

When did the media turn into a bunch of damn liars?

[apeman81]

As stated earlier, In Grenada and Panama, US citizens had been attacked, imprisoned, and, in the case of Panama, killed prior to US engagement.

No such actions had been taken in Serbia or Haiti. Who was the President then?

[The Toad]

She obviously was not a History major.

[Sacajaweau]

Saddam was gleeful at the 9-11 attack. People were cheering in the streets and in Palestine, also.

He obviously not only believes in pre-emptive attacks but has engaged in them himself (Kuwait for one).

[realpatriot71]

I would say that there are differences between the Cold War and today, and you cannot draw some sort exact equivalence. Also, no war occured during the Cuban Missle Crisis, although, I doubt Kennedy was "fooling around".

I personally have some problems with this war, but at this point I am willing to give the administration the "benefit of the doubt". Our leaders and our troops need our support right now. For better or worse, the truth, whatever it is, will come out eventually.

[stuartcr]

Seminole War?

[Protagoras]

"It would be the first preventive war in U.S. history, the first time the nation has attacked without being struck first"

Huh? That statement isn't even close. Start with Yugoslavia, then the first gulf war, then Panama, then Viet nam, then Korea, then,,oh heck, there is so many it's not worth talking about.