Preemptive Action: When, How, and to What Effect?

Authors

M. Elaine Bunn, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Files

Description

What role should preemptive action play in U.S. national strategy? In the wake of the first public statements by President George W. Bush in June 2002, and in the buildup to military action against Iraq, the issue quickly became a lightning rod for controversy. While some commentators hailed preemption as a valuable concept whose time had come, others condemned it as a dangerous precedent that could damage American interests, strain our relations overseas, and make the United States a feared unilateralist in the international system. All the hue and cry has done little to clarify the issues and choices that policymakers face in weighing the utility and limits of the concept.

Document Type

Policy Brief

Publication Date

7-2003

Publication

Strategic Forum

Publisher

National Defense University Press

City

Washington, DC

Recommended Citation

Bunn, M. Elaine, "Preemptive Action: When, How, and to What Effect?" (2003). Strategic Forums. 112.
https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/strategic-forums/112