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Chris J. Karr's avatar

I hope one silver lining to this cloud is that it disrupts the production of Shahed drones that Russia's been using to attack Ukrainian cities and civilians.

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Cameron Sprow's avatar

Oct. 7th, Mr. Thornton. Perhaps a Freudian slip? Thinking about Jan. 6th as you wrote this piece?

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SGman's avatar

Just a quibble: these are preventative attacks, not preemptive. The following from Tom Nichols:

'In tradition and international law, a "preemptive" attack is a spoiling attack, meant to strike an enemy who is *imminently* going to strike you. This is what Israel did in 1967, getting the jump on Arab armies that were about to attack. That's usually permissable.

What's going on right now are *preventive* strikes, which are usually NOT permissable in law or tradition. This is striking an enemy far in advance, because you believe time and situation is favorable to you. That, for example, is Japan striking the US in 1941.

The reason everyone uses "preemptive" (as the US did in 2002 against Iraq) is it induces a presumption of active self-defense and immediate necessity. Again, you might agree with Israel's actions here - and prevention isn't always wrong - but they are NOT "preemption."

This matters not only as a matter of law, but in the battle for global public opinion. Everyone wants to be "preemptive," no one wants to be the source of a preventive war - and for good reason, because prevention is morally and legally a lot shakier of a rationale.'

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Patricia Gauthier's avatar

Trump has tried and tried to get Iran to agree with the International Community to stop moving toward their nuclear weapon plans. He gave them 60 days to make a deal that would benefit all countries involved. And, as he said, he urged them strongly. He said the deal would not last indefinitely. Israel had superior intelligence. On day 61, Israel attacked very strategically only targeting the Iranian leaders and scientists who Israel knew were right at the door. Iran is responding right now. God help us all.

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Patricia Gauthier's avatar

Sorry I don’t know what JCPOA is.

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Patricia Gauthier's avatar

Thank you. I know what the agreement is but there are so many acronyms I lose track. So yes, Iran killed the agreement. Now there is one war we are dragged into.

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SGman's avatar

Probably shouldn't have killed JCPOA in the first place, eh?

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