The war in Iraq was not a pre-emptive war. A pre-emptive war is one that is fought to stop an impending attack.

A preventive war is one that is fought to remove an imminent threat to the country. The Iraq war was unquestionably an example of the Bush administration’s imperialistic foreign policy, as spelled out in the Bush administration’s National Security Strategy of 2002. Under this doctrine, the United States grants itself the right to use “anticipatory self-defense” when it feels that another country is building up a military presence that in any way rivals the United States.

To me, this policy sounds frighteningly similar to the policy that imperial Japan used to justify its attack on Pearl Harbor. Imagine what kind of precedent these principles set for other countries that wish to use military aggression as a means of gaining power. Frankly, the implications are frightening.

The bottom line is that overt military aggression is the worst strategy to follow if the goal is to create a more peaceful world. The foreign policy of the Bush administration has gone beyond reckless; it is, in fact, extremely dangerous. I urge you to join me on Nov. 2 in voting George W. Bush out of office.

Noah Wiese

Junior

Materials Engineering