A Global Hegemon's Prerogative: The Bush Doctrine of Preemption and the Road to Iraq

Abstract

Abstract : The United States is pursuing a policy of anticipatory self-defense also known as a policy of preemption to defend itself against any future attacks such as those at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon despite the objections and reservations of allies and the United Nations. Preemptive use of force is designed to combat imminent and emerging threats and is widely recognized in international law specifically in Article 51 of the UN Charter. Preemptive has been defined to mean marked by the seizing of the initiative: initiated by ones own self. Preventive use of force is normally associated with depriving another their use of power or hope of acting or succeeding. The Bush Doctrine is both preemptive and preventive. The United Nations has been trying to enforce its resolutions against Iraq for over ten years and has made little progress. The Bush Doctrine has successfully completed a regime change in Afghanistan and Iraq via its military instrument. While the mission in Iraq is far from complete the Bush Doctrine has made more progress in ten months than the UN has made in ten years. The capture of Saddam Hussein was possible by the action of the Bush Doctrine. Until the United Nations makes a significant reformation on how it discharges its duties especially in the Security Council with regards to emerging threats such as Saddam Hussein the United States should continue to support the Bush Doctrine of preemption.