Bush’s Doctrine of Preemptive Attack About to Be Changed?

I have always believed that if there is a clear and present danger to the security of the United States or an imminent attack, our country has every right to launch a preemptive military strike against the potential source of such a threat.

Regrettable, such a valid doctrine, in my opinion, was adulterated by the previous administration.

Early in his administration—and, yes, as a result of 9/11—Bush modified such a valid doctrine to one where the United Sates would have the right to attack “a threat that was gathering, not just imminent.”

From there it was a slippery slope to an “elective war,” a “war of choice,” and the Iraq war.

The Pentagon is now reviewing the “enhanced” Bush doctrine.

According to the Philadelphia Enquirer, the “U.S. may modify Bush doctrine of preemptive attack“:

The Sept. 11 terrorist strikes prompted Bush to alter U.S. policy by stressing the option of preemptive military action against groups or countries that threaten the United States. Critics said that breached international norms and set a dangerous precedent for other nations.

The doctrine is being reassessed as part of the Pentagon’s Quadrennial Defense Review of strategy, force structure, and weapons programs.

Kathleen Hicks, the Defense Department’s deputy undersecretary for strategy, who is overseeing the review said that the international environment is “more complex” than when President George W. Bush announced the policy in 2002, “We’d really like to update our use-of-force doctrine to start to take account for that,” according to the Enquirer.

Read the entire report here.