Re: Would a pre-emptive strike against Iraq be ethical? A pre-emptIVE strike is always ethical if, and only if, one knows what one is pre-emptING.
So, is it going to be because of: "regime change", "rogue state", "weapons of mass destruction", "threats against one's family and a former President", "harboring/training Al Qaeda", "genocidal dictatorship", "control of petroleum", "axis of evil", "inherent danger to our regional allies", "friendly with O. Bin Laden", "violation of U.N. resolutions", "complicity in 9/11", "threats/attacks against Israel/Kurds/Iranians", "absence of democracy", "failure of the containment policy", "unfinished business", "support for PLO/Hamas/Jihad", "our national interests" or what/which? And, if it is to be all of the above, then what is the sudden (i.e. mission creep) urgency to do a job that should have been done ten years ago! Smells and looks bad...as it has been explained up to the present time.

Bluehawk

Re: Would a pre-emptive strike against Iraq be ethical?

Air, sea (blockade and missile/gunfire) and Spec ops, but I don't support a sustained ground offensive (which we could win) that leaves us in nominal control of a country whose political system is still based on tribal might and religious right! We want to find a few bad guys not a colony. Having said that, if war is declared, I'ld back our troops all the way, but I doubt I'ld vote for Bush in '04.

Re: Would a pre-emptive strike against Iraq be ethical? ETHICS - WAR. Didn't know they were compatable!!!!!
SF
NC

Re: Would a pre-emptive strike against Iraq be ethical? Whether or not it would be ethical will depend on what the (TRUE) ultimate goals are and whether or not we are willing to see it through until the desired objective is obtained.

If our troops are sent into Iraq, "ALL" Americans must support them 100%! They will need it and will definitely deserve it!

Tobe

Re: Would a pre-emptive strike against Iraq be ethical? Though none except those who are in direct command right now know all the details of troop strength and placement, it is a sure bet that most of our soldiers, sailors and marines and equipment that will be needed for an invasion of Iraq are either already in place surrounding Saddam Hussein's regime, or are on the way. It is inconceivable to imagine that the american government would have gone to this enormous expense without having long ago decided the intention of carrying out SOME sort of a complete mission there, pre-emptive or otherwise. Even if the present Iraqi regime capitulated to the letter of the most recent UN resolution, those troops and equipment will be in theatre for a long time to come and, lest anyone forget, our people are already fighting not too far away.
The battlefields of half the world are populated with the graves of those whose sacrifices were asked by and given to the United States government, on behalf of us all. A pre-emptive strike would have to be followed up by an assault, to the end if at all this
time. Should that occur, it will require that all of us do as so many here suggest to be fully conscious of and supportive to every single service member at home or in the field, all the time, beginning now...whether the war is just or unjust, successful or not. Those troops have no choice, nor do we any longer (if anyone thought we ever did). And, in this case, what is more is that when and if our people finish up that mess, there will be repercussions all over the globe necessitating of them and us a form of endurance we may never have had to produce in the past, possibly for generations if not for centuries to come. EVERY day, is Veterans Day.
Bluehawk

Re: Would a pre-emptive strike against Iraq be ethical? Ethical schmethical. What's ethical about war? Where are the ethics in killing your sworn enemies before they kill you? If one side in a conflict refuses to "paly by the rules", you throw the rules out the damn window!

The Old Sarge